
Class 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




GEN. E. A. MERRITT 



RECOLLECTIONS 



1828-191 I 



EDWIN A. MERRITT 



ALBANY 
J. B. LYON COMPANY. PRINTERS 
1911 



r 



Copyright, 1911 
By EDWIN A. MERRITT 



©CiA303203 



INTRODUCTION 



The career of General E. A. Merritt is a signal illustration 
of the best features of American social and political life. 

Descended from old New England stock, his immediate 
ancestors were soldiers in the Revolutionary struggle and 
eminent in laying the foundations of civil polity and of social 
frame work in Vermont, that sturdy and vigorous first repre- 
sentative of the great commonwealths that have clustered 
about the original thirteen colonies. Largely self-educated 
and earning as a teacher the means to obtain his own further 
academic culture. General Merritt began practical life as a 
surveyor in the fertile region between the St. Lawrence river 
and the Adirondack wilderness, and like the great Washing- 
ton found in that occupation an expansion of sentiment and 
sympathy often lost in those who pursue their tasks within 
narrow walls. He took an interest in all public matters and 
was of those who aided in the organization of the Re- 
publican party in 1854 and was one of the most earnest 
workers in that cause of free soil and free speech that finally 
triumphed in the election of President Lincoln. 

Having become a resident of St. Lawrence county in this 
State in 1 84 1 , it was as a member of the Board of Supervisors 
of that county and as clerk of the same body, that he first 
rendered public service from 1854 to 1859- In the latter 
year he was elected a member of the Legislature and was 
re-elected to that notable body which, convening on January 
1 , 1 86 1 , by its patriotic endeavor and wise legislation placed 
New York foremost of the loyal states in the tribute of men 
and money to save the Union. 

[1] 



Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 



Disregarding the favorable political prospects opened to 
him by his good services in the Assembly, General Merritt 
determined to go into the field and render there such aid 
as he vv^as qualified to give. 

As Regimental Quartermaster and Commissary of Sub- 
sistence, he served over three years m the armies of the 
Potomac, the Cumberland and the Tennessee, resigning in 
December, 1864, to accept the position of Quartermaster- 
General on the staff of Governor Fenton and remaining in 
that place to the end of the Governor's second term on De- 
cember 31,1 868. 

His vigorous and economical business principles v^ere 
conspicuously displayed in the important affairs connected 
with the closing months of the war, the final return of our 
war-worn veterans and the reorganization of the National 
Guard of the State. In the conduct of the soldier's homes 
at New York and Albany and in providing gratuitous means 
for the collection of back pay and other dues for needy sol- 
diers and their dependent families, his philanthropic senti- 
ments found the means of earnest and practical exercise. 

During this period he served as a member of the Consti- 
tutional Convention of 1867 to which he had been elected 
from his senatorial district. In this body of conspicuously 
able and representative men. General Merritt took an active 
part and was Chairman of the Committee on the Organiza- 
tion of the Legislature. 

President Grant appointed General Merritt Naval Officer 
of the port of New York on March 29, 1869, where he 
rendered excellent service in the economical administration 
of the custom laws until displaced in July, 1870, by one of 
those factional contests that have too often weakened the 
Republican party in this State. Many of his admirable offi- 
cial suggestions were, however, subsequently carried into 
effect by the Secretaries of the Treasury. 



Introduction 



For several succeeding years General Merritt devoted him- 
self to private concerns, while retaining a strong interest in 
political matters. In 1875 he was unanimously nominated 
by the Republican State Convention for State Treasurer on 
a ticket that also comprised the names of Frederick W. 
Seward, Francis L. Spinner and George E. Danforth and 
which received the enthusiastic support of the party. This 
ticket was defeated by the extraordinary efforts of the Demo- 
crats in preparing for the presidential candidacy of Governor 
Tilden in the next year. 

In December, 1877, General Merritt was nominated by 
President Hayes to be Surveyor of the Port of New York, 
his name was favorably reported by Senator Conkling, 
Chairman of the Committee on Commerce and his confirma- 
tion was without opposition. His previous experience in the 
Naval office enabled him to promptly put in force the re- 
forms recommended in the recent reports of the Jay Commis- 
sion and to further extend them by reorganization of the 
force at his disposal and by a rigid system of official 
responsibility. 

The marked success of his efforts in these directions in- 
duced President Hayes to promote him, in July, 1878, to 
the office of Collector of the Port. In this prominent place 
his trained ability found a large and favorable field and his 
administration received the cordial support and applause not 
only of the Treasury Department, the importers and others 
directly interested, but of the general public who recognized 
the first successful attempt to rescue this great business office 
from the domination of partisan influences. Certain political 
considerations led President Garfield in the early days of his 
term to appoint General Merritt to the position of Consul- 
General at London. 

This action aroused a general expression of regret that an 



Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 



officer so efficient in customs administration should be dis- 
placed from the principal position where such qualifications 
were of value. The business men of New York united in a 
petition to the President praying for his retention as collector, 
while the press, secular and religious, without regard to party 
affiliations spoke in the highest terms of Collector Merritt's 
administration and regretted the imminence of his transfer to 
another field of duty. 

General Merritt was Consul-General from August, 1881, 
to May, 1885. For the first time the Consulate-General at 
London was thoroughly and efficiently organized and all 
branches of its business supervised by citizens of the United 
States. 

During this period General Merritt's reports to the State 
Department were marked by his characteristic breadth of 
observation and accuracy of treatment. He investigated the 
industrial, social and commercial conditions of the British 
Empire and commented upon them in a clear and unam- 
bitious style. It had been his unique opportunity to have 
occupied those custom places at the great port of New York 
that best fitted him to appreciate and administer the signifi- 
cant consular work connected with the proper valuation of 
imported goods. In this field of official duty he rendered 
great and constant service to our government. 

SILAS W. BURT 



CONTENTS 



PAGE. 

Chapter I. Early Life II 

II, Political Activity 17 

III. Thurlow Weed, the Warwick of New York. . . 27 

IV. The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton. 33 
V. Governor Fenton 51 

VI. The Godard Controversy 57 

VII. State Normal School at Potsdam 63 

VIII. The Constitutional Convention, Naval Officer 

and Political Matters 73 

IX. Horace Greeley 87 

X. Surveyor and Collector of the Port of New 

York 107 

XI. Consul-General to London 121 

XII. Life in London 1 49 

XIII. Retrospect 1 69 

Appendix 177 

[5] 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



FACING 
PAGE 

Gen. E. A. Menilt Frontispiece u^ 

Mrs. Eliza R. Merritt 8^ 

Governor Fenton 32 

W. A. Wheeler 72*^ 

Horace Greeley 86 >" 

Facsimile letters 102 "^ 

R. B. Hayes, facsimile letter 114, 1 20^ 138 

R. E. Fenton, facsimile letter 116 

James A. Garfield 1 24 

Facsimile letter 1 34 "^ 

John Sherman 126'-^ 

E. A. Merritt, Jr 1 68 ^ 

[7] 




MRS. ELIZA R. MERRITT 



CHAPTER I 
EARLY LIFE 



CHAPTER I 
Early Life 

I have been privileged to be a participant in many events 
of a great period of our national life, and while I have not 
thought that my association vv^ith them was of importance 
enough to be made a matter of public record, I have been 
persuaded by over partial friends to write them out. I con- 
sented to do this in the form of an autobiography for my 
family, and this book is compiled mainly from that record. 

Nearly all the persons of public note with whom I have 
been associated have passed away and it may be of interest 
to the generation which is succeeding the one in which I 
was an active worker to learn something of the stirring times 
which were so fateful to the State and Nation, and of the 
men who were then influential, but whose names are now 
only memories. 

The conditions of life eighty years ago were hard. Our 
modern comforts and opportunities of knowledge were then 
unknown. It was a pioneer age. Labor was hard and 
poorly paid, and I was not exempt from the hardship which 
was the common lot. I was born in Sudbury, Vt., Febru- 
ary 26, 1828. My father, Noadiah, was the son of Noah 
Merritt, a revolutionary soldier who served six years in the 
Continental Army. My great-grandfather of Templeton, 
Mass., was one of the Minute Men at Lexington. My 
maternal grandfather, Jeremiah Parker, while working in 
the field at Leicester, Vt., was captured by the Indians and 
taken across Lake Champlain to Essex. He was deaf and 
to this infirmity he owed his release, for the Indians thought 

[II] 



12 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

that his deafness was the sign that he was under the guar- 
dianship of the Great Spirit. 

It was an age of large families, and to my father, by his 
first and second wives, sixteen children were bom. The 
family was reared in humble circumstances and though the 
opportunities of education were few, they were carefully 
used, even at much sacrifice. There were no schools but 
the common ones and they were of the crudest sort. But 
the family was a school of itself, in which the older children 
taught the younger ones, all stimulated and encouraged by 
my father who was a man of wide reading, exemplary 
habits, a good neighbor and citizen. He had a fine tenor 
voice and in his early life taught a singing school. He died 
in 1854 at 71 years of age. My mother lived until 1867, 
dying at 76. She was a woman of great kindness, a good 
wife and mother. She had wide knowledge of the simple 
botanical remedies and was a helpful friend to the sick and 
needy. Despite the lack of educational advantages, twelve 
of the children of the family became school teachers, some 
of them obtaining distinction as such. Two of the boys be- 
came ministers, one in the Methodist, the other in the Uni- 
versalist denominations. In 1 84 1 , my father moved his 
family to St. Lawrence County, New York, crossing the ice 
of Lake Champlain on the day that General Harrison was 
inaugurated President. 

Returning to Sudbury at I 7 years of age, I worked for 
my brother who lived upon grandfather's farm, in the win- 
ter teaching my first school at Hubbardstown. .My health 
had been impaired by overwork in the field and a sun-stroke 
so that I was unable to endure hard labor, and I engaged to 
go out as one of the salesmen or peddlers for my brother who, 
with a partner, conducted a patent medicine and novelty 
business. With other agents we accompanied Rockwell & 



Early Life 13 

Stone's circus, joining it at Ticonderoga and remaining with 
it until we reached Chippewa, Canada. We visited Mon- 
treal and the principal Canadian towns, selling our goods, 
and though the life was one of hardship it was full of 
interest. 

One of the peddlers being taken sick at St. Catherine's, 
I was sent for to care for him until his recovery. This ex- 
hausted all our resources, and retaining only enough to pay 
my steamer fare to Toronto, I arrived there with fifty cents. 
Unable from lack of funds to return home I engaged with a 
man I met at the hotel to get out barrel hoops for flour 
mills. I was in no condition to set my own terms and greedily 
accepted what he offered. He paid my hotel bill and I 
went seventeen miles to my work. Having left my clothes 
at the circus when I was hastily summoned away, I was 
very destitute, nor was I much better off when I ended my 
service of six weeks as I only received enough to pay my 
board and buy a shirt and a pair of boots. 

Boarding at the same place with me were some American 
contractors for whom I worked until winter in bridge build- 
ing, and then in their employ in the making of a macadamized 
road near Lake Simcoe. Our construction camp was primi- 
tive. Built of logs, it was kitchen, sitting room and bed- 
chamber. We slept in bunks and the cooking was done in 
the same room. It was a hard life and my health failed, and 
engaging board with a prosperous farmer who had come 
from the United States, I opened a writing school which at- 
tracted many pupils. 

In the spring I engaged myself to a mill owner to tend his 
saw-mill. The hours were long, from midnight to noon, and 
the pay was not large. Two men had the other part of the 
day but my work equalled theirs, and it was so appreciated 
by my employer that I was asked to take charge of his lum- 



14 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

ber yard and saw mills and sell his lumber. Taken with 
fever and ague I returned home after my long absence, 
enriched in experience but not in money. Attending school 
at the old St. Lawrence Academy for two or three fall terms 
I taught winter schools at Hannawa Falls, Morley and 
Potsdam, doing my last teaching in 1852. Our life in the 
Academy was marked by hard work and hard living. In 
company with two comrades we roomed in the Academy 
building, messing together and sharing expenses. Butter was 
from ten to twelve cents a pound and eggs ten cents a dozen, 
and though food was cheap, money was dear. We cooked 
our potatoes on the top of a box stove under a basin. Aside 
from our room rent our living cost us per capita fifty cents 
per week. We were an uncouth lot for we had come fresh 
from the woods, but we studied industriously and kept well 
up in our classes. We had as fellow students some who 
afterwards attained distinction, among them being Hon. A. 
X. Parker, Gilbert B. Manley and Hon. John A. Vance. 

In 1 850 I worked as a carpenter on the depot in Madrid 
and saw the first engine go over the road to Ogdensburg. 
While in the Academy I had learned surveying and was 
familiar with the use of instruments, and Hon. Benjamin 
Smith of Russell being engaged to make the survey of a high- 
way from South Colton to Long Lake, I became a member 
of the surveying force, and when Mr. Smith was taken sick 
I used the compass and laid out forty miles of road. This 
opened to me a new occupation which I followed until more 
important work brought me to another chapter in my life. 
To those days of out door life I look back with pleasure. I 
was employed to subdivide the northern half of the town- 
ship of Hollywood, an intricate work which gave me stand- 
ing as a surveyor, and I aided in the preliminary survey 
of the Rome and Watertown railroad, making a topographi- 



Early Life 15 

cal map of the route. This insured me employment as an 
engineer when the road was to be located. I did the com- 
pass and transit work from Norwood to De Kalb and a 
portion of the work of excavating, superintended the laying 
of the rails from Norwood to Canton, the building of the 
railway bridge at Canton and the abutments and piers at 
Potsdam. Until the breaking out of the war of 1861 I 
followed the business of surveying, making maps of many of 
the towns. In this pleasant occupation I was engaged until 
the war called me from home to other work. 



CHAPTER II 
POLITICAL ACTIVITY 



CHAPTER II 
Political Activity 

My first entrance into public life was my election as 
Supervisor of Pierpont in 1 854. My re-election followed in 
the two succeeding years, following which, in 1837, I was 
made Clerk of the Board, holding the position for four years 
or until the breaking out of the Civil War. 

During my absence from home in 1856 I was nominated 
for the Assembly on the American or " Know Nothing " 
ticket, being defeated, however, by the Republican candi- 
date. It was a triangular contest, a Democrat being in the 
field. 

The Republican party under the leadership of Hon. Pres- 
ton King, was organized in 1856, the Democratic county 
convention, by resolution merging with the Republican party. 

I supported John C. Fremont, the first Presidential candi- 
date of the new party and in 1858 I was elected temporary 
deputy clerk of the State Assembly. The following year I 
was elected Member of the Assembly and was re-elected in 
I860, entering actively into the canvass of the campaign. It 
was in the legislative session of that year that my acquaint- 
ance began with Horace Greeley. This acquaintance soon 
ripened into a friendship which became intimate and con- 
tinued through his entire life. The great editor had come to 
Albany to take part in the organization of the Assembly in 
opposition to the leadership of Thurlow Weed and William 
H. Seward. Thurlow Weed was in the height of a power 
which lasted many years and was too strongly intrenched 
to be defeated and his candidate, De Witt C. Littlejohn, 
was chosen Speaker. An early State Convention of the 

[19] 



20 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

Republicans was called and a delegation was selected 
pledged to William H. Seward as a candidate for the Presi- 
dency. Mr. Greeley opposed this candidacy and as a sub- 
stitute for an Oregon delegate voted in the convention for 
Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Greeley's action was of course bitterly 
offensive to the Seward- Weed faction. As the days went on 
the feeling became intense. 

Mr. Greeley's position as the editor of the leading Repub- 
lican paper in the country gave him great influence and power, 
and the factional lines became strictly drawn. The radical 
and aggressive forces of the party followed Mr. Greeley, the 
conservatives being arrayed with Mr. Seward. Thurlow 
Weed, as editor of the Albany Journal, together with his 
prestige as the ablest and most adroit leader of his time, made 
him a formidable antagonist. 

The election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency was a severe 
disappointment to Mr. Seward and his followers and did not 
allay the factional strife. The Legislature of 1 860 was abso- 
lutely under the control of Weed, and the following year a 
United States Senator was to be chosen. 

The radicals favored Mr. Greeley, the Weed party, Will- 
iam M. Evarts, and a small number desired the Hon. Ira 
Harris. I was one of the live to conduct Mr. Greeley's cam- 
paign. The Harris contingent, numbering twenty, preferred 
Greeley to Evarts. 

In the earlier ballots Mr, Greeley led, the Harris leaders 
assuring us that failing to elect their candidate they would 
throw enough votes to Greeley to elect him. The Evarts 
men to prevent this decided to secure an adjournment of the 
caucus from Saturday to Monday. Governor Morgan's 
room was the headquarters of the Evarts party. I was out- 
side the executive chamber, when I saw a Mr. Schull, a 
member from Herkimer county, come out with a resolution 



Political Activity 21 



for adjournment in his hand. I had time to reach the caucus 
and inform the Harris leaders and they united with us 
against adjournment. The voting continued without change. 
On the next ballot the expected break was to be made. As 
the ballot was being called, Mr. Pierce came to me and 
said, " We can't carry out the understanding as the old man 
(Thurlow Weed), has sent word that if they will hold on, 
the Evarts men would come to Harris." This was done 
and Harris was elected. 

It was reported to me by one who was in the executive 
chamber that when there was a failure to adjourn. Weed 
said to Evarts, " You cannot be nominated. The best thing 
to do is to withdraw." Mr. Evarts declined to do this, and 
without his consent. Weed gave orders to his followers to 
go for Harris. It was a surprise to Harris who had given 
up the contest and was in conference with Lieut. Governor 
Campbell of the Greeley party for the transfer of his followers 
to Greeley. The final ballot was Greeley, 49, Evarts, 2, and 
Harris, 60. 

Commenting on the result in a letter to Hon. Beman Brock- 
way, Mr. Greeley said: '* I thank you for your account of 
doings at Albany. I ought not to have allowed my name 
to go before the caucus seeing that success was hopeless from 
the start ; and I cannot avoid the imputation of having sought 
the office and of quarreling with Weed and Seward because 
I did not get it, when, in fact, they have not done anything 
for a year that I so thoroughly justify and approve as I do 
this opposition to me. I like Seward far better than I could 
have done had he supported me and wish he had always 
shown a corresponding spirit. My vote was so large that 
I do not feel at all mortified by the result; I only regret the 
obligation it has imposed upon me of coming here (Wash- 
ington), to engage in a hopeless struggle to repay some 
friends for the efforts they have made for me." 



22 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

When Mr. Greeley was being considered as a candidate for 
United States Senator, John Morrissey, formerly a noted prize 
lighter, but then a member of Congress, sought my acquaint- 
ance and suggested that if Mr. Greeley were really a candi- 
date he would gladly aid him and as he assumed money 
would be required to conduct the canvass he would be glad 
to contribute $10,000, and he authorized me to draw upon 
him for this amount. When Morrissey was first a candidate 
for Congress, his district was strongly Democratic and there 
was no hope of electing a Republican. Mr. Greeley, com- 
paring him with some others, spoke well of him as a suitable 
representative of his district. He said he had a reputation 
for being an honest man and that he believed he would not 
sell his vote, as some representatives had been charged with 
doing. Mr. Morrissey stated that he considered Mr. Greeley 
a good friend to the poor and popular in his district and he 
considered that what Mr. Greeley said about him was of 
valuable service to him in his canvass. Mr. Morrissey, after 
entering Congress, was anxious to leave behind him a good 
record for his son — and his record was a good one. 

Soon after the election of Lincoln to the Presidency he in- 
vited Mr. Weed to come to Springfield and through him he 
tendered the position of Secretary of State to Seward, and 
the fact was given to the press. This was the only public 
^announcement of a cabinet position until the appointment of 
all the other members. 

On his way to Washington, President Lincoln stopped 
at Albany and was received by the Legislature in joint ses- 
sion. He was introduced by Senator Andrew J. Colvin, a 
Democrat, who had been made President, pro tem., of the 
Republican Senate for the day and for the purpose of pre- 
siding. Mr. Lincoln responded, and knowing of the intense 
feeling that prevailed, tactfully declined to be entertained by 



Political Activity 23 



either faction, even declining to accept Governor Morgan's 
invitation. 

The fact of the conspiracy to assassinate Mr. Lincoln on 
his way to Washington is familiar. The advertised route 
was changed, the Capitol was safely reached and the great 
President entered upon his great career. 

Mr. Greeley decided to go to Washington to confer with 
the President in regard to the organization of the Cabinet, 
with special reference to the appointment of Salmon P. 
Chase as Secretary of the Treasury. I was in New York 
and in a conference of Mr. Greeley's friends, it was decided 
that Col. Mix and myself should accompany Mr. Greeley as 
a bodyguard. The reports in regard to the peril of Mr. 
Lincoln had created anxiety for Mr. Greeley's safety. No 
man among the secessionists was more intensely hated. Mr. 
Greeley objected to these precautions but was overruled, and 
we arrived in Washington a week before the inauguration 
and remained until after the selection of the cabinet. 

The headquarters of the radicals with whom Greeley was 
associated was at Willard's in the room of Hon. James S. 
Wadsworth, father of the former member of Congress and 
grandfather of James W. Wadsworth, Jr., former Speaker 
of the Assembly. In the coterie were Gov. Denison of Ohio, 
Senator Fogg of New Hampshire, Frank P. Blair of Mis- 
souri, Henry B. Stanton, David Dudley Field, Reuben E. 
Fenton, of New York, and other men of like celebrity. The 
sharpest contest was between the advocates of Chase and 
Simeon Cameron for the Treasuryship. Thurlow Weed's 
rooms were the headquarters of the Camerons. Greeley's 
zeal for Chase was equalled by his hostility to Cameron. 
The opponents of Chase sought to prejudice Lincoln against 
him by citing his supposed abolition sentiments and the oppo- 
sition that his appointment would be offensive to the border 



24 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

slave states. Delegations from Maryland, Virginia, and the 
District of Columbia made urgent protest under the skilful 
manipulation of Weed and Seward. This was offset by the 
opposition claiming that Cameron was the unscrupulous con- 
troller of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and was corrupt in 
his political methods. The fight was intense and inclined 
to bitterness. It was important that Senator Benjamin Wade 
of Ohio should be enlisted on the side of Chase. Although 
both were from Ohio, they had belonged to opposing fac- 
tions. His acquiescence in the appointment of Chase was 
essential and the President had given a hint to that effect. 

Preston King, Wade's friend, was selected for the work. 
He was not active in the canvass but he was friendly to 
Chase. He had retired for the night but he was awakened 
and taken to Wade's apartments. He also was in bed, but 
his consent to withdraw his opposition was secured. When 
this was reported to Lincoln he sent for Greeley and informed 
him that he had decided to appoint Mr. Chase. An anxious 
company waited in Wadsworth's room for the return of 
Greeley from his conference with the President. When he 
arrived he swung the door wide open and with boyish glee 
danced about the room. Being asked " What is it, Mr. 
Greeley? " he replied, "I can't tell you, but you can bet 
your bottom dollar on Uncle Abe." It was the only time 
during my long acquaintance with Mr. Greeley that I ever 
saw him unduly excited, but he repeated many times, *' You 
can bet your money on Abe. Bet your bottom dollar." 

Mr. Greeley's candidate for Secretary of the Navy was 
Gideon Wells and Mr. Bates, as Attorney General. Mont- 
gomery Blair was a candidate for Secretary of the Navy. 
The day the nominations were sent to the Senate for con- 
firmation, I was walking down Pennsylvania Avenue with 
Mr. Greeley when we met Mr. Blair, who had just learned 
that he had been nominated for Postmaster-General. He 



Political Activity 25 



expressed surprise and disappointment and asserted that the 
announcement of his candidacy was the first intimation he 
had of his selection for that office. He assumed that he was 
to be Secretary of the Navy. Cameron was a candidate for 
the Treasury but was nominated Secretary of War. Neither 
was satisfied and both ultimately retired. Cameron was 
subsequently appointed Minister to Russia. Chase also re- 
tired and was made Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 

The great political shrewdness of Lincoln was seen in his 
not consulting these gentlemen as to the positions they were 
to occupy, as they would doubtless have objected, but being 
appointed they could not well decline to serve, and no seri- 
ous complaint could be made by their friends that their 
claims for recognition had been ignored. 

I was privileged to hear President Lincoln's inaugural ad- 
dress. The New York delegation was near the platform. 
The venerable Chief Justice Taney administered the oath, 
Lincoln's old antagonist, Stephen A. Douglas, holding Lin- 
coln's hat while he spoke. Fearing trouble, U. S. Troops 
with a battery were located on Capitol Hill, Gen. Winfield 
Scott being in command. The Republicans in Washington 
were very apprehensive. 

During our stay in Washington Col. Mix and myself were 
constantly at Mr. Greeley's side, and when he was at the 
National Hotel we occupied an adjoining room. Only on 
one occasion did we apprehend danger to him and that was 
at Willard's Hotel. While passing through the office he 
was assailed by a Mr. Wallack, Editor of the Washington 
Star, who was under the influence of liquor. He charged 
Mr. Greeley and the Tribune with contributing to the sec- 
tional feeling. Mr. Greeley in a quiet way endeavored to 
explain his position. The crowd gathered quickly and 
threats were made, but Col. Mix and myself pushed through 
the crowd and brought him safely to his room. 



CHAPTER III 

THURLOW WEED. THE WARWICK OF NEW YORK 



CHAPTER III 

Thurlow Weed, the Warwick of New York 

My first personal acquaintance with Thurlow Weed was 
in the winter of 1 860 when I was Member of Assembly. The 
bills authorizing the construction of street railroads in the 
City of New York had passed the Legislature and were 
vetoed by Governor Morgan. I voted against them because 
no provision was made to compensate the city for the fran- 
chise and use of the streets. The incorporators, who were 
distributed through the State, were understood to represent 
the members of the Legislature, of which Mr. Weed was 
the leader. He desired to pass the bills notwithstanding the 
veto, which would take a two-thirds vote. Mr. Weed sent 
for me as he did for others and urged me to vote to over- 
ride the veto. After complimenting me as a " rising young 
man " he gave me, as a special reason, that the Presidential 
campaign would require a large amount of money and 
assured me that there was very little doubt that Mr. Seward 
would be the Republican candidate and that a large sum 
could be procured from the incorporators. I asked him how 
much and he responded, $300,000. He justified the meas- 
ure as being in the interest of the city. He did not convince 
me that I ought to vote for the bills and, of course, I did not 
get further recognition from him. He was the leader of the 
Republican party in the Legislature and Governor Morgan 
and he were political as well as personal friends. Geo. Bliss, 
Jr., was Governor Morgan's private secretary, and I found 
him working for the bills and I went to the Governor on 
the assumption that he wanted his veto sustained and told 
him what I had heard of Bliss's work. He said he left the 

[29] 



30 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

responsibility with the Legislature. I left him with the 
impression that, while he was to get credit for the veto, they 
would pass it over his head, which proved to be the case. 
My next meeting with Mr. Weed was soon after I was ap- 
pointed Quartermaster-General on Governor Fenton's staff. 
At the Astor House, General Harvey, Judge-Advocate on 
the Governor's staff, wished to introduce me to Mr. Weed, 
to which I consented. Mr. Weed expressed some surprise at 
my changed appearance and was quite cordial and invited 
us to dinner and ordered champagne. After the break in the 
party and his opposition to Governor Fenton and his adminis- 
tration he was very distant and cool. He and Mr. Seward 
supported Andrew Johnson and the State ticket headed by 
John T. Hoffman for Governor and V. L. Pruyn for Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, against Fenton and General Woodford. 
While I was Naval Officer of the Port of New York, I 
found it necessary to make some changes in the subordinates. 
The chief deputy, a friend of Thurlow Weed, whose name 
was Franklin, and who had been practically the chief after 
the retirement of General Dix, desired to remain, and Mr. 
Weed, who had considerable influence at Washington, en- 
deavored to prevent his removal. I nominated Judge Kings- 
ley to succeed him. Considerable delay occurred until the 
Judge got a letter from Senator Conkling, not addressed to 
me but to the Collector. When that was shown by Secretary 
Boutwell to General Grant he consented to the change. It 
was generally understood that Mr. Weed practically con- 
trolled the patronage of the naval office. My rea'son for the 
change had no relation to Mr. Weed. When I became 
Collector of the Port, Mr. Weed called upon me with his 
daughter, Harriet, to inquire about some friends in the office. 
I informed him of President Hayes' policy and that changes 
should not be made for personal or political reasons and that 



Thurlow Weed, the Warwick of New York 31 

if he had friends in positions in whom he had especial interest, 
I should make it a point to look up their records and if found 
satisfactory they would not be disturbed. I could not 
promise to retain unworthy or inefficient men. From that 
time on our relations were most cordial and I visited him 
frequently at his home on 12th Street. He had practically 
retired from political activity. He was in declining health, 
but in a reminiscent mood and I enjoyed my visits with him 
very much. He was quite free to comment on the political 
contests in our State and the active leaders in them. I do not 
suppose he quite forgave Mr. Greeley and Governor Fenton 
for their opposition to his plans. He was undoubtedly the 
ablest political leader of his time in our State. He was a 
kindly hearted and generous man and socially a popular man. 
I came to know his daughter, the wife of Mr. William 
Barnes. She took an active interest in politics and in some 
respects resembled her distinguished father, which gave her 
a commanding influence in the circle in which she moved. In 
1876 when Governor Morgan was a candidate for nomina- 
tion for Governor the opposition desired Mr. Evarts and I 
opened correspondence with him and he consented to the use 
of his name for that office. The State convention met at 
Saratoga Springs. A caucus of those in favor of Mr. Evarts, 
at which Hon. A. X. Parker presided, was held. It was so 
largely attended that Mr. Weed and his friends were 
alarmed. Representations had been made to Mr. Evarts that 
he could not be nominated and he sent a letter to Hon. Geo. 
W. Curtis, one of his strongest supporters, to have his name 
withdrawn. When we learned of this fact I had an inter- 
view with Hon. Joseph Choate, Mr. Evart's law partner, 
and urged him to prevent the withdrawal. After the discus- 
sion of his candidacy by the newspapers it would be better 
for him to have his name go into the convention. He wanted 
3 



32 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 



to know how many votes he could get and I assured him he 
could get 1 00. He thought this a creditable showing and the 
letter was suppressed. He received 126 votes. Before the 
meeting of the convention Mr. Weed sent for me and urged 
that I would aid them to make Mr. Morgan's nomination 
unanimous, that he was a friend of Mr. Evarts and it would 
injure him politically to be beaten in the convention as he 
surely would be. I conceded that Mr. Morgan would be 
nominated but that the opposition had gone so far that we 
were entitled to be heard in convention, and that the motion 
to make the nomination unanimous would come from the min- 
ority; that George Wm. Curtis was asked to be spokes- 
man and that quite a large number had indicated a purpose 
to bolt the nomination of Morgan, and that the action I sug- 
gested would make Mr. Curtis the leader of the minority. 
The result justified my prediction. After the adjournment 
Mr. Weed met me and extended both hands and thanked 
me for declining his advice. In occupying the position I rep- 
resented the opposition and not on personal account. The 
result gained for Mr. Evarts a political status which he had 
not heretofore occupied, and made him an available candi- 
date for Secretary of State and justified President Hayes in 
selecting him for the position. He was also one of the attor- 
neys before the Electoral Commission that determined the 
election of President Hayes over Samuel J. Tilden. 




GOVERNOR FENTON 



CHAPTER IV 

THE CIVIL WAR AND MY RELATIONS WITH 
FENTON 



CHAPTER IV 
The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 

On November 1 , 1 86 1 , I was appointed Quartermaster of 
the 60th New York Volunteers, which was organized at 
Ogdensburg, and on the day on which I accepted the posi- 
tion I took charge of the office and we started for the seat of 
war. 

I served in that capacity until 1 864, having participated in 
the campaigns of the army of the Potomac, in Virginia and 
Maryland, and went with the regiment to Tennessee under 
General Hooker and participated in the campaign from Mur- 
fresboro to the Tennessee river and in the campaign which 
culminated in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission- 
ary Ridge in October, 1863. 

The regiment re-enlisted as a veteran regiment and re- 
turned home on leave of absence until the spring of 1864 
and returned to Stevenson, Alabama. On the campaign to- 
ward Atlanta I accompanied the regiment as far as Kenesaw 
Mountain. I was then promoted to the position of Captain 
and Commissary of Subsistence, and was assigned to a post 
at Great Falls on the Potomac above Washington to supply 
the reinforcements for Sheridan's army. 

At the close of that campaign I was ordered to Annapolis, 
Md., with four officers of the same department to assist me, 
to pay the returning soldiers from rebel prisons commutation 
of rations under a law which provided for the compensation 
of prisoners who had been held in rebel prisons. While there 
I received notice of my appointment as Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral of the State of New York. Reuben E. Fenton was 

[35] 



36 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

elected Governor in 1864, defeating Governor Seymour, 
who was a candidate for re-election. 

The notice of my appointment as Quartermaster-General 
was conveyed to me by Hon. C. T. Hulburd, member of 
Congress from my home district. The following was Gov- 
ernor Fenton's note to Mr. Hulburd: 

Albany, N. Y.. December 16, 1864. 
My Dear Sir. — I enclose note to Capt. Merritt, requesting him 
to accept the position of Quartermaster-General on my Staff. You 
will have the kindness to see him and advise him to resign his 
A. Q. M.. U. S. A., in order to reach here by the 30th or 31st 
inst. Very truly yours, 

R. A. FENTON. 
Hon. C. T. HULBURD, 

Washington, D. C. 

I replied to Governor Fenton's request with the following 
letter : 

OFFICE, DEPOT COMMISSARY OF SUBSISTENCE. 

Washington, D. C, December 22, 1864. 
Hon. R. E. Fenton, Governor Elect of New York, Albany, N. Y. 

Sir. — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt this day of 
your communication dated Albany, Dec. 1 6, 1 864, tendering me 
the position of Quartermaster-General on your Staff. 

I take great pleasure in accepting the position and have as a pre- 
liminary step forwarded to the Hon. Secretary of War my resigna- 
tion as Capt. Com'g Sub. of Vols., which will no doubt ^e accepted. 
I hope by faithful performance of duty in the position assigned 
me to justify the confidence which you have thus reposed in me. 
I have the honor to be. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obdt. svt., 

E. A. MERRITT. 



The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 37 

My resignation as Captain was accepted and I entered 
upon my duties as Quartermaster-General on Governor Fen* 
ton's staff, January 1, 1865. 

My associates on the staff of Governor Fenton in his first 
term were Gen. Wm. Irvine, Geo. S. Batcheller, James B. 
Swain, Alex. W. Harvey, Frank Chamberlain, Dr. Jas. L. 
Pomfret, S. D. Marvin, Michael J. Farrell, Delavan D. Mor- 
gan and John Manley. The Chief of the Bureau of th^ 
Military Record was Lockwood L. Doty. 

The war still being in progress, they were still raising troops 
in New York to fill vacancies in the regiments in the field, 
and also an additional regiment or two. The demand upon 
the staff was a heavy one. Included in my ordinary duties 
was the care of the sick and disabled soldiers who had not 
only returned from the seat of war, but were located in the 
different hospitals most convenient to the field of operations, 
and special appropriations were made for their nursing and 
care and for such supplies as were not ordinarily furnished by 
the Government under what was called " special agencies." 
There had also been established a large depot in the city of 
New York to care for and look after troops passing from the 
seat of war and returning through New York. This depot 
was subsequently discontinued and the duties were transferred 
to Albany. The State was most liberal in making appro- 
priations for the care of the sick and disabled. 

A Bureau of Military Statistics and Museum was estab- 
lished and assistance in the collection of bounties freely given. 

Under a joint resolution of the Senate and Assembly it 
was arranged that all the flags of the different regiments 
should be returned to the custody of the State and that the 
celebration of the Fourth of July at Albany in 1 865 should 
be a military demonstration under the general direction of 
the Governor. 



38 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

It was found to be very difficult to secure an orator for the 
occasion and it was desired that Rev. Edwin H. Chapin, 
the noted pulpit orator of New York City should be had if 
possible. He had been invited by the Young Men's Asso- 
ciation, but had declined, as he had several other invitations. 
Having had acquaintance with the trustees of his church in 
New York I suggested to Governor Fenton that if he would 
commission me to go to New York that possibly we might 
secure his acceptance of the invitation. He said, " You take 
the next train for New York if you think you can do that." 
This was on Saturday evening. Sunday morning I attended 
his church and saw his trustees, and when the service was 
over we surrounded him and finally succeeded in getting his 
acceptance, with the promise that certain statistics should be 
forwarded to him. I procured what he requested. 

The celebration was to take place a week from the next 
Monday. At that time I took considerable pride in being 
able to get his acceptance after he had declined so many calls. 

The plans for the outside celebration included the building 
of a temporary structure, and a very large gathering of sol- 
diers and citizens, ten thousand or more, were present. It 
was my duty as Quartermaster-General to present the flags 
that day. General Grant, of course, was the chief guest of 
the occasion and it took a long time to present these flags 
separately, there being over two hundred of them. I pro- 
posed that this part of the program be omitted, but General 
Grant said, ** No, I think they had better be presented, there 
may be some soldiers representing all of these regiments who 
will be glad to see their old flag." 

Addresses were made by Governor Fenton and General 
Sickles, and an oration delivered by Dr. Chapin, which was a 
great effort. General Grant afterwards said to me that it 
was the finest oration he ever heard. 



The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 39 

The most active politicians about Albany were Hamilton 
Harris, Ira Harris, Hugh J. Hastings, editor of the Knicker- 
bocker, Dr. Jno. Swinburne, Wm. Weed, Abram Van 
Vechten, Dr. Vanderpool, John Barclay and Geo. Dawson, 
editor of the Journal. Among the prominent younger men 
was Chas. Emory Smith, editor of the Express, who was 
afterward private secretary to Governor Fenton. His first 
secretary was Beman Brockway, editor and proprietor of the 
Watertown Times. He did not remain long as private secre- 
tary, but was made a canal appraiser. My acquaintance 
with him from that time on during his life was very intimate 
and I regarded him as one of my warmest personal friends. 

Those whom I have named were of the Republican party. 
Among the Democrats were Wm. Cassidy, editor of the Al- 
bany Argus, Daniel Manning, of the Argus, Judge A. J. 
Parker, Erastus Corning, and Judge Peckham. 

A bill to increase the fare on the New York Central rail- 
road was passed by the Legislature and vetoed by Governor 
Fenton. There was much controversy over the passage of 
this bill and various charges of corruption were made in con- 
nection with it. While the bill was in the Governor's hands 
he asked my opinion as to what I thought should be done 
with the bill and inquired as to the sentiment of the people 
in Northern New York concerning it. I gave him my views 
very freely, saying that if I had the power I should certainly 
veto it, notwithstanding the great influence in favor of in- 
creasing the fare. 

*' Well," he said, *' come into my library," and he then 
showed me the draft of his veto message. 

My relations with the Governor were such at that time that 
I was pursued by reporters and others to see if they could get 
some inkling of what was to be done. My answer to them 
was, " If you are in the Senate chamber at the proper time 



40 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

you will get the earliest information that the public can have 
whether he signs or vetoes the bill, for I am sure that he will 
give his reasons." 

Soon after the veto was sent in a modified bill was intro- 
duced and it was claimed that the objection to the bill by the 
Governor had been practically overcome and that there was 
a possibility that another bill might be passed. This state- 
ment was entirely untrue and the Governor desired that his 
unalterable position should be known to the representatives 
of the New York Central railroad, of which Mr. Erastus 
Corning was the principal representative in Albany. He 
asked me to see Mr. Corning privately and convey a mes- 
sage to him which he outlined, and in order to be sure that 
there would be no mistake about it I put that in writing and 
called upon Mr. Corning and explained the situation to him 
and the hopeless prospect of their getting the legislation that 
they wanted, and I left my memorandum with him without 
signature. He said that he appreciated the position in which 
the Governor was placed and that he had every confidence in 
Mr. Fenton's belief in the soundness of his position with re- 
gard to it and that he should inform the railroad people and 
advise them not to proceed further in the matter at that ses- 
sion. It was one of the most important acts of Governor 
Fenton in its effect upon the interests of State. He had been 
able to learn the details of the railroad business in a confiden- 
tial way and was satisfied that they ought not to have an in- 
crease of rate. 

It was not long after that that a dividend of' eighty per 
cent of stock was declared to the stockholders. 

Mr. Corning had been in Congress with Governor Fen- 
ton and, although differing in politics, they were good per- 
sonal friends. At the inauguration of Governor Fenton on 
the first of January, it was customary for the incoming mem- 



The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 41 

bers of the staff to pay their respects to the outgoing Gov- 
ernor, and we called upon Governor Seymour at his residence 
and had a most genial and pleasant interview. This was 
my first acquaintance with Governor Seymour. I afterward 
met him frequently, and was always very much pleased with 
him. I recall that he was very liberal in his hospitality that 
day. 

As soon as the war ended the policy of Governor Fenton's 
administration was to get back to a peace standard as soon as 
possible and reduce expenses. 

The most difficult thing for Governor Fenton to do was to 
so distribute the patronage to satisfy all factions of the party. 
There were factions at that time and it was impossible to 
satisfy everybody. 

It will be recalled that the Republican party as organized 
was made up of Free Soil Democrats and Whigs. Governor 
Fenton and his immediate friends were of the old Democratic 
party, while Thurlow Weed and Horace Greeley, George 
Dawson and William A. Wheeler were of the Whig party. 

It soon became apparent that there were to be factional 
divisions mainly upon those lines. Mr. Greeley, however, 
was a warm supporter of Governor Fenton. 

President Lincoln, who had just entered upon his second 
term, was assassinated on the 1 4th of April of that year, and 
it was determined to take the remains by the way of New 
York, Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland and Chicago to Spring- 
field, 111. Upon arrival of the remains in New York city 
they were taken to the City Hall and lay in state from ten 
o'clock until about the same hour next day. The people 
who desired to see the remains came not only from the city 
but from the adjoining country. A continuous procession 
was admitted all night long until the time of removal of the 
remains. At midnight a requiem anthem was sung by 



42 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

1,200 members of the choral societies of New York and 
vicinity. This was one of the most impressive features of the 
ceremony. 

The procession to leave New York consisted of the U. S. 
troops who were located in the vicinity of New York, the 
National Guard, the Congressional committee from Washing- 
ton to accompany the remains to Springfield, and representa- 
tives of all the civic bodies of the city. Governor Fenton 
and his staff, the Congressional committee and the Mayor 
were the only parties who were permitted in carriages. 
The procession went up Broadway to 34th Street, 
down 34th Street to 1 1 th Avenue and to the railroad 
depot at 30th Street and 1 1 th Avenue. The whole city 
seemed to have turned out to view the procession and all of 
the cross streets were blocked. It was said that more peo- 
ple saw the procession than any gathering that had been held 
in the city of New York. 

We proceeded to Albany where the dead President re- 
ceived a like tribute. The remains lay in state at the Capitol 
during the night and the people of Albany, Troy and 
vicinity gathered to view the remains. The next day the 
procession was formed and the remains taken through to 
Buffalo. General Geo. S. Batcheller and myself were desig- 
nated as the the officers to represent the Governor and accom- 
pany the remains through the State. Only those who were 
alive at that time can appreciate the profound feeling of sor- 
row and devotion which was experienced by those who wit- 
nessed this spectacle. It was in fact a funeral procession from 
Washington to Springfield. 

The last time I saw President Lincoln alive was during 
a visit to the War Department at Washington, where I went 
to procure arms for the National Guard of the State of New 
York. This visit was a very short time before President 



The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 43 

Lincoln was assassinated. As I was passing by the White 
House Mr. Lincoln came out on the steps to bid farewell to 
a gentleman, who was dressed in the height of fashion. Mr. 
Lincoln was bare headed and. wore a black alpaca sack coat 
and a pair of carpet slippers. A number of disabled 
soldiers who were in sight, seeing me talking with the Presi- 
dent, came forward to shake hands with him and he greeted 
them all cordially. 

Andrew Johnson, Vice-President, a war Democrat, by 
the death of Mr. Lincoln became President, and at first 
seemed disposed to follow Mr. Lincoln's policy and satisfy 
the Republican party who had elected him. He soon 
changed his course and the result was that a very serious 
division occurred in the ranks of the party, and especially 
in New York. 

Thurlow Weed and W. H. Seward supported Mr. John- 
son, Mr. Seward being Secretary of State. In 1 866 an at- 
tempt at what was called " Johnsonizing " the party became 
a very serious problem and strong opposition to Mr. Fenton's 
re-election as Governor resulted. 

The campaign was a very animated one, but he was 
elected over John T. Hoffman, who was the Democratic 
candidate. Mr. Pruyn, a Johnsonized Republican, candidate 
for Lieutenant-Governor, was defeated and General Stewart 
L. Woodford was elected. Both Woodford and Fenton 
received 7,502 majority in St. Lawrence county. 

After four years of Governor Fenton's administration John 
T. Hoffman was elected Governor and after the ceremonies 
the Governor and his staff formally called upon Mrs. Hoff- 
man at Congress Hall, where they had rooms, escorted by 
the Jackson Guards, who had been especially detailed as 
escort to Governor Hoffman during his inauguration. We 
were presented to Mrs. Hoffman by a member of the new 



44 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

staff and invited into the dining room, where one of the most 
elegant collations that could be served had been brought from 
New York by a caterer. Of course we did not accept re- 
freshments at all, as we had no desire to mar the beauty of 
the table. The aide-de-camp unwittingly invited the Jack- 
son Guards in to partake. The result was that Mrs. Hoff- 
man had to close her refreshment room and they could not 
offer refreshments to the citizens of Albany. 

I was detailed afterward to attend Mrs. Fenton at the 
Governor's mansion and in the evening Governor Hoffman 
returned the call. He was an elegant gentleman and very 
choice in his language. I cannot exactly recall what he said, 
but if it had been put into the usual vulgar phrasing it would 
have been pretty vigorous on account of the incident referred 
to above. 

The factional division of the Republican party in this State 
after Johnson became President continued and was increased 
by those who were dissatisfied with Mr. Fenton's disposition 
of the patronage, but, notwithstanding the opposition, a solid 
delegation from New York to the National Convention of 
1868 was for Governor Fenton's nomination as Vice-Presi- 
dent with General Grant. 

The first great meeting held in New York to bring General 
Grant before the country for President was originated and 
organized by Governor Fenton and his friends. The Hon- 
orable Lyman Tremain made the leading speech at a meet- 
ing in New York City. 

General Grant had always been recognized as a Demo- 
crat but had taken no part in political contests at that time. 
The great hold which he had upon the country as Com- 
mander-in-chief of the army at the close of the war made him 
available as a presidential candidate and he was unanimously 
nominated. 



The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 45 

The opposition to Mr. Fenton in New York insisted upon 
going to the Convention at Chicago and doing whatever it 
could to defeat him. Such a division of sentiment was cre- 
ated that he was defeated for the nomination. This intensi- 
fied the feeling on the part of his friends, which at the time 
constituted the majority of the party, and he was urged to be 
a candidate for the United States Senate in opposition to 
Governor Morgan, who was then in the Senate and desired 
re-election. 

Mr. Fenton was not inclined to be a candidate, hoping 
that he might enter General Grant's Cabinet, and he favored 
the nomination of Noah Davis of Albion, at that time a 
Justice of the Supreme Court. 

In making a pretty careful canvass of the Legislature of 
1869 it was believed that a majority could not be concen- 
trated upon Judge Davis. The question was submitted to 
his immediate friends to determine whether he should take 
the responsibility of the canvass or should retire and leave the 
field open for Governor Fenton. This decision was not 
reached until about a week or ten days before the holding of 
the caucus and his name was then eliminated. 

The contest for the U. S. Senate followed, and although 
Mr. Hoffman had been elected Governor by the Democrats, 
the Legislature was Republican and the sympathies of the 
Democrats about Albany were on Mr. Fenton's side and 
especially those of Governor Hoffman, who one evening 
gave a dinner to a large number of gentlemen, among whom 
was Governor Fenton. I desired to see Mr. Fenton on some 
business and so called at Governor Hoffman's room and was 
asked to go right into the dining room, where I had a whis- 
pered conversation with Governor Fenton while he was sit- 
ting at the table. Governor Hoffman whispered to me and 
wanted to know what was to be the outcome, and I told him 



46 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

we were greatly encouraged, and he expressed great hope 
that we would succeed. 

Mr. Greeley and some Republicans of New York and 
vicinity thought it was advisable that Marshall O. Roberts 
should be a compromise candidate and he was urged to ac- 
cept it. I was delegated to see him and induce him to come 
to Albany for a short period. He was deemed a formidable 
candidate. He was reputed to be a very rich man and the 
cry was raised at once that there was money to be used to 
influence the result. This report came to Mr. Roberts' ears 
and he said that he would not pay money for an election, 
although he should be very glad to have the position. He 
said that Mrs. Roberts would be very glad to go to Wash- 
ington, but that he could not afford to be charged with pur- 
chasing any office. So he retired and left the field open for 
Governor Fenton. There was also another candidate, Mr. 
John A. Griswold, of Troy, N. Y., whom his friends hoped 
might be nominated. His leading representative was Hon. 
John M. Francis, editor and proprietor of the Troy Times. 

When the friends of Governor Morgan became somewhat 
apprehensive of results unless Mr. Griswold could be got out 
of the way and induced to support Governor Morgan, it 
was time something should be done to secure his favor. 

Hon. Calvin T. Hulburd, of the St. Lawrence Congres- 
sional district, favored the re-election of Governor Morgan 
and he was induced to go to Washington to see Mr. Gris- 
wold, who was then in Congress. I was privately apprised 
by a friend at Mr. Morgan's headquarters of this program. 
Our friends recognized the importance of having the Gris- 
wold men if possible favor Governor Fenton for second 
choi'-e and at once secured their favor. 

The effort was successfullv made to secure that result on 
the contingency that Mr. Griswold should be out of the 
field. 



The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 47 

I saw Mr. Hulburd take the train and we anticipated 
that he would arrive in Washington at a certain hour, and 
about two hours after it had passed a telegram was received 
from Mr. Griswold by Mr. Francis stating that he could 
not consent that his name should be used against Governor 
Morgan. The friends of Mr. Griswold were disappointed 
at this action of his and in a public way they declared for 
Governor Fenton. 

The Morgan side captured all the vacant rooms in the 
Delavan House and the Fenton men had only one or two 
rooms that they could use, the principal one of which I had 
charge. A very strong lobby was brought to Albany in the 
interests of Mr. Morgan. The men who had received fed- 
eral appointment under his favor as Senator, and the most 
active opponents of Governor Fenton were in charge of the 
canvass, and at the outset were very confident of Morgan's 
success, and it was only late in the canvass that Mr. Morgan 
deemed it necessary to go to Albany himself. 

A most careful canvass was made on the Fenton side and 
the sentiment of the country from which the members came 
was favorable to Mr. Fenton. 

Near the close of the canvas Mr. Charles A. Dana, editor 
of the New York Sun, came to Albany at the instance of 
Governor Morgan and friends, while at heart he was 
friendly to Mr. Fenton and his friends. 

I received an intimation from a gentleman who was a per- 
sonal friend and who through circumstances was compelled 
to be with the Morgan interests, who was at their head- 
quarters, but who was anxious for our success at heart, and 
he kept me pretty well advised. He said that if they began 
to use money he would let me know. I got a signal from 
him and we met and he informed me that while they had 
canvassed and felt sure of success, still, they deemed it neces- 
4 



48 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

sary to secure some additional votes and that they had made 
arrangements. He made it plain that he was quite sure that 
such an arrangement had been made, and gave me the names 
of six persons counted for Fenton who would, for a con- 
sideration, vote for Mr. Morgan. 

I reported this to our headquarters and to Mr. Fenton, 
who was somewhat disturbed, but he said, " You see 

Mr. and tell him what you have heard and if he 

holds up his hand and says you may not trouble yourself 
about it, you may know that they are mistaken about it and 
you may rest easy." 

When the caucus was about to be held it was suggested 
that there should be something done to prevent a lobby in- 
fluencing the result. Hon. Henry C. Lake of Chautauqua 
county, and myself suggested that if some police protection 
could be secured, the Assembly Chamber could be kept 
closed until wanted for the caucus. The Sergeant-at-Arms 
of the Assembly, Colonel Pierce of Rochester, thought that 
if he could have police support he could keep the Assembly 
Chamber clear for the caucus of everybody except those who 
were to participate in it. An application was made to the 
police department for a sergeant and a sufficient number of 
policemen, to be under the direction of the Sergeant-at-Arms. 
Mr. Fenton's friends were advised that they could not get 
into that caucus unless they occupied the gallery, which they 
naturally did and filled it. 

The result of the first ballot was ten majority in favor of 
Mr. Fenton and there were two blank ballots. On the sec- 
ond ballot Mr. Fenton was nominated, receiving twelve 
majority. 

Subsequently, I learned through the gentleman who was 
the manipulator or representative of the six votes that were 
supposed to have been purchased from the Fenton side for 



The Civil War and My Relations with Fenton 49 

Mr. Morgan, that he had been approached by a man who 
claimed to represent Mr. Morgan's interests. The party ap- 
proached was supposed to be able to influence these men, 
saying that they very much desired their votes and that they 
were willing to pay liberally. He listened to their proposi- 
tion and consulted the men, and they agreed to accept 
$2,000 each. The representative of Mr. Morgan wanted 
them to come to his room and arrange with them as indi- 
viduals, but these gentlemen said, " no, they can't afford to 
come to your rooms, we will arrange it in this way, you are 
to be in a certain room and these men will pass through your 
room and you hand them the money in an envelope." These 
men passed through the room and each of them took an en- 
velope containing $2,000 and passed from that through one 
of the Fenton headquarters. They claimed they had a right 
to forage on the enemy, and that if money was afloat they 
might as well have a portion of it and that they voted for 
Mr. Fenton just the same. I am confident the facts are as 
stated above. The Assembly Chamber was kept clear for 
those entitled to participate in the caucus. Of course there 
was complaint on the part of lobbyists and newspaper 
men. The caucus did not see fit to open the doors until it 
adjourned. 



CHAPTER V 
GOVERNOR FENTON 



CHAPTER V 
Governor Fenton 

In speaking of these incidents connected with my official 
life I cannot claim to have had very great influence on im- 
portant events, but was so situated as to be identified with 
them, and can fairly claim to have had the confidence of the 
leading members of the Republican party, especially of the 
faction with which I was identified. I have no cause of com- 
plaint against the Democratic press nor the prominent mem- 
bers of that party. 

Governor Tilden, Daniel Manning, Judge Amasa J. 
Parker, Judge Peckham, father of the late judge of the 
United States Supreme Court, Andrew J. Colvin, James 
Brooks, Fernando Wood. Senator James Pierce, Judge 
Charles Andrews and many others were especially friendly. 

Delos DeWolf, William Rice and William Kingsley, with 
whom I was associated on the Capitol Commission, were also 
my good frends. The Republican members of that Com- 
mission besides myself were Hamilton Harris and Chauncey 
M. Depew. 

I came to know Governor Fenton more intimately than I 
did any other public man with whom I was associated. His 
aim was to render the best possible service to the State. In 
doubtful matters he endeavored to get all the facts relating 
to the subject and was governed by them. He was always 
willing to give the public his reasons for any action. He was 
very careful not to commit himself in official or political mat- 
ters until fully convinced of the proper course to pursue. He 
believed in personal interviews with politicians rather than 
written correspondence. 

[53] 



54 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

In 1866, when he was candidate for re-election, he re- 
ceived a letter from New York making certain suggestions 
and desiring a response to be sent to a certain address. It 
was also stated that a gentleman at that address would be 
glad to meet a personal friend of the Governor. At his re- 
quest I proceeded to New York and the address, and there 
for the first time I met Gen. Benjamin F. Tracy, who after- 
ward became Secretary of the Navy, and who was Attorney 
for the New York Times newspaper. The Times, edited 
by Henry J. Raymond, was supporting the policy of Andrew 
Johnson and opposing the candidacy of Governor Fenton. 
Mr. Raymond had participated in the Philadelphia conven- 
tion, composed of Democrats and dissatisfied Republicans, 
and it was said that he wrote the platform. He was a friend 
of Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State, and of Thurlow 
Weed. The latter had free access to the columns of the 
Times. General Tracy informed me that the proprietors of 
the Times were dissatisfied with the course of the paper and 
wished to support the Republican ticket, but before doing so 
desired an understanding with Governor Fenton and his 
friends before they made a public announcement of their 
change of position, or at least we should be advised of the 
situation and that they desired to be friendly. 

The interview was very satisfactory to the General and the 
desired change was made. Mr. Raymond had occasion to 
go up to New Hampshire for his health and Mr. Weed's 
communications did not thereafter appear. 

When General Tracy was Secretary of the Ncfvy in Presi- 
dent Harrison's administration, he recalled our first interview 
and said that the most important interview in that campaign 
was the one we had at that time. 

Governor Fenon was elected, but his majority was so small 
that the Times had good reason to claim credit for his 
election. 



Governor Fen ton 55 



Gen. James B. Swayne, an Engineer on the Governor's 
Staff, was an intimate friend of Mr. Raymond. The Gov- 
ernor endeavored to be as impartial as possible in the distribu- 
tion of patronage, but he w^ould not knowingly appoint any 
person to a position of trust whom he did not think to be 
honest and capable. It was not his way to denounce his 
enemies. He spoke of those whom he thought wrong with 
regret and would in a mild way endeavor to disabuse their 
minds. Gen. George W. Palmer and Gen. Selden E. 
Marvin of his staff were a little nearer to him than others. 

Dr. John Swinburne and Leman Thompson of Albany, 
Frank Hiscock of Syracuse, D. D. S. Brown and Colonel 
Pierce of Rochester, John M. Francis of Troy, Editor of the 
Troy Times, Capt. Charles Godard of Brooklyn, Waldo 
Hutchins and Benjamin Manniere of New York, were also 
active and warm friends of the Governor. Charles Emory 
Smith succeeded Hon. Beman Brockway as private secre- 
tary and trusted friend of the Governor. Mr. Smith after- 
ward edited the Albany Express, the Evening Journal and 
subsequently became editor of the Philadelphia Press, Minis- 
ter to Russia and Postmaster-General. 

Hon. Thomas G. Alvord was Lieutenant-Governor dur- 
ing the first term and Gen. Stewart L. Woodford during the 
second term. The latter was subsequently nominated for 
Governor but was defeated by John T. Hoffman, the Demo- 
cratic candidate. During President McKinley's administra- 
tion he was appointed Minister to Spain. General Woodford 
came to Potsdam when he was a candidate for Governor to 
deliver an address at the fair and was my guest upon that 
occasion. During his visit he, with Hon. A. X. Parker, 
prepared a challenge to Governor Hoffman for a joint debate 
during the campaign. Mr. Parker later presented this chal- 
lenge, but Governor Hoffman declined to accept. 



CHAPTER VI 
THE GODARD CONTROVERSY 



CHAPTER VI 
The Godard Controversy 

Col. Abel Godard, of St. Lawrence county, was a candi- 
date for re-election as State Senator in 1 867. His first nomi- 
nation was due to the fact that he had been Colonel of the 
60th Regiment of New York Volunteers, which was raised 
mainly in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. The soldiers 
warmly supported him. He accepted, giving assurances that 
he would be honest and maintain the credit of St. Lawrence, 
which stood high. Before the close of his term, however, 
very disquieting rumors were about Albany affecting his char- 
acter as Senator and I deemed it necessary to investigate them, 
so far as to determine whether I could support him for second 
term. 

I was a member of the Governor's Staff and it was known 
that we were friends and that I had been one of his supporters. 
I became satisfied that Godard ought not to be retained, and 
so informed his nearest friends that unless he could explain 
some very serious charges I could not support him longer. 
He, with two friends, sought an interview, at which he de- 
clined to make any explanation. I then frankly told them 
that I could not support him and should feel at liberty to 
support any good man who might be a candidate. He then 
opened a newspaper controversy charging me with circulat- 
ing unfounded stories against him, to which I responded in an 
article giving his record in the Senate and called upon him to 
explain to his constituency rather than to seek a controversy 
with me. 

In the article referred to I stated his action on measures 
of the Committee of Claims, One certain bill related to 

[59] 



60 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

damages on the canal. One was the Jarvis Lord claim bill 
which had been charged in the debate in the Legislature as 
fraudulent. I used his name and quoted what had been said. 
The press of the State noticed this controversy and Jarvis 
Lord sued me for malicious slander by innuendo and had me 
arrested. I employed Hon. Lyman Tremaine and Rufus 
Peckham (late Justice of the Supreme Court of the United 
States) as my attorneys, and they retained Judge Danforth 
of Rochester. I spent considerable time and money in prep- 
aration for trial. 

Mr. Tremaine said: "Rufus, you know the canal fel- 
lows better than I do and you must draw the answer to the 
complaint." It was a very strong statement and added sev- 
eral charges of corruption which were discovered in our 
investigation. The result was that Lord finally withdrew the 
suit. I have all the papers in the case together with copies 
of the evidence which we intended to use in the suit. 

After Governor Tilden had entered upon his duties, the 
New York Tribune sent a young man of the name of D. D. 
Loyd as its representative to spend the winter at Albany 
to report the proceedings of the Legislature. He brought a 
letter to me recommending him. I told him that if he would 
undertake an investigation of the canal frauds he could do a 
good thing for the Tribune and an important public service. 
He was anxious to undertake it and I put into his hands the 
pleadings and the evidence. 

He wrote two strong articles based upon it. Immediately 
after the appearance of the second article, Governor Tilden 
sent in a message to the Legislature asking authority to ap- 
point a commission to investigate the subject. Daniel 
Magone of St. Lawrence, was made the attorney for the 
commission. This was some satisfaction for time and money 
spent and I think a real public service was rendered. 



The Godard Controversy 61 

I had no personal acquaintance with Mr. Lord at the time 
I wrote the article and only used his name to designate the 
claim, which was for $30,000. The claim was to be con- 
sidered by the Canal Board and to be paid, on condition that 
proper vouchers should be rendered for labor, materials, etc. 
The attorney informed me that there was no doubt that all of 
these vouchers were manufactured and that nearly all the 
papers were in one handwriting and that he believed most 
of them were forgeries. 

Colonel Godard was defeated by an overwhelming ma- 
jority and Hon. A. X. Parker was nominated in his stead. 



CHAPTER VII 

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT POTSDAM 

5 



CHAPTER VII 
State Normal School at Potsdam 

A law was passed in 1867 authorizing the establishment 
of four normal schools. I took an active part with Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction, Victor M. Rice, in securing 
the passage of the bill. Previously the schools at Albany 
and Oswego had been established. The bill authorized the 
board of supervisors, village authorities and trustees of acade- 
mies to compete for the location, on the basis of providing 
grounds, buildings and equipment, etc. The Commissioners 
of the Land Office with the Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion constituted a board to receive applications and determine 
the location. There were a large number of applications and 
among them, one from the Board of Trustees of the old St. 
Lawrence Academy in Potsdam. The board tendered the 
academy property, including lands and buildings. I was a 
member of the board and presented the application. I was, 
at the time, on Governor Fenton's staff. Anticipating that 
an additional amount of money would be required, I thought 
that we should require outside assistance. 

Learning that there was to be a special meeting of the 
Board of Supervisors of the county to partition the county 
into assembly districts, I took the train from Albany and ar- 
rived home in the evening and took the early train the next 
morning for Canton. Edward W. Foster was Supervisor of 
Potsdam, and I proposed that he offer a resolution for aid, 
to the extent of $10,000 to which he demurred, thinking it 
was useless. I then canvassed the board as hastily as I could 
before the meeting in the afternoon and arranged to have 
the resolution introduced by another supervisor, of which I 

[65] 



66 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

informed Mr. Foster. He then consented to introduce the 
resolution as mine, but for which he would assume no re- 
sponsibility. I consented to its introduction in that way if he 
would ask permission for me to be heard. 

Hon. Charles C. Montgomery was Chairman of the 
Board. Permission was given and I addressed the Board 
and they voted unanimously^ to aid to the extent of $ 1 0,000 
in case the school should be located in Potsdam. A petition 
was then prepared and circulated about the county, espe- 
cially in Canton, Ogdensburg, Gouverneur and Malone. 
Hon. Noble S. Elderkin was active in circulating this peti- 
tion and it was generally signed by prominent men in the 
localities mentioned. 

I presented this to the Board of Location with the reso- 
lutions of the Board of Supervisors. A time was fixed for 
a hearing and it became evident that there would have to be 
a much larger sum raised to meet the requirements. At the 
annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors I appeared before 
them with Hon. A. X. Parker and the Rev. Dr. Fisher, of 
the St. Lawrence University, and asked assistance to the 
extent of $40,000. A resolution to aid to the extent of 
$25,000, if a school should be located in St. Lawrence 
county, was passed. Some assurances were also given that 
the village of Potsdam would also aid. It began to look 
promising. At the next hearing all the locations which had 
filed applications were represented. Some large offers were 
made by cities. After the action of the Board of Supervisors, 
Ogdensburg proposed to apply, but did not present it in 
time for the public hearing. At the time of the hearing no 
plans for a building had been submitted and I was permitted 
to address the Board, giving my reasons why the matter of 
location should be considered as the determining factor in- 
stead of the amount of monev offered. I insisted that the pur- 



State Normal School at Potsdam 67 

pose of the law was to accommodate all parts of the State so 
far as practicable, and in case a location was considered de- 
sirable and the sum offered by such locality was not sufficient 
they should have the opportunity to supplement the same and 
a reasonable time be given to respond. 

This proposition was received with favor by the larger 
number of applicants. The Board took the matter under 
consideration in executive session. Governor Fenton, as 
Chairman of the Board, announced that the proposition of 
General Merritt was a reasonable one and that the Board 
would hear representatives of the various localities on that 
basis. 

I endeavored to present two points, first, that the rural 
communities would necessarily furnish the larger number of 
students and therefore should be accommodated near their 
homes. I gave the school statistics of St. Lawrence, Jeffer- 
son and Franklin counties and contended this territory had a 
just claim for one of the schools. Plattsburg was also an 
applicant. They proposed to turn over their academy and 
furnish the amount necessary, and a large sum of money in 
addition. 

My second point was that suitable buildings could be more 
cheaply built there than any other place in the vicinity on 
account of cheapness of material and labor. The stone 
quarry was then open and Potsdam was a lumber market. 

After the final adjournment of the Board Dr. Socrates N. 
Sherman of Ogdensburg, appeared with an application for 
that locality. On my personal solicitation and the Governor's 
they received the application and it was considered with the 
others before a decision was made. Preliminary plans for 
buildings were made. The Board decided to locate in Pots- 
dam in case assurances were given that the locality should 
provide $72,000 in addition to the offer of the academy 



68 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

building, etc., and that should be determined by a given date. 
In case we failed it was to go to Plattsburg. The Board 
was divided and Potsdam had one majority, Plattsburg as 
second choice and unanimous. It was deemed best to have 
a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, a town meet- 
ing and a village meeting. A call for a special meeting of 
the Board of Supervisors was signed by a majority. An 
active canvass was made by our business and professional 
men, Hon. A. X. Parker, Judge Henry L. Knowles, Hon. 
N. S. Elderkin, Henry Watkins, Hon. C. O. Tappan, Rev. 
Dr. Plumb, W. H. Wallace, Dr. Jesse Reynolds, A. N. 
Deming, E. D. Brooks, and others. 

After the call for the meeting of the Board of Supervisors, 
I received private information from John Magone, brother 
of Daniel Magone, that there was on foot a movement to 
prevent action by the Board of Supervisors by injunction, to 
restrain them from confirming the resolution heretofore passed, 
and that Judge A. B. James would issue such an injunction. 
Mr. Parker, Mr. Tappan and Judge Knowles had a confer- 
ence and proposed new resolutions and a large delegation 
attended the meeting. An injunction order restraining the 
Board was received, and fixed the hearing for a week after 
our option would expire. Notice was taken of it, and Mr. 
Tappan was appointed attorney to represent the Board. The 
Board then adopted a new resolution to which no legal ex- 
ception could be taken. The town and village meetings 
were held and voted the amount necessary to , satisfy the 
Board. The next session of the Legislature passed the law 
authorizing the erection of the necessary buildings and com- 
bined the several propositions and the issuing of bonds to 
provide the money necessary and naming the commissioners 
to expend the money. Before the meeting of the Board the 
town of Oswegatchie held a special meeting to instruct their 



State Normal School at Potsdam 69 

Supervisor, Mr. Seth G. Pope, to vote against the furnishing 
of the aid we desired. He had previously voted for this ap- 
propriation. He requested me to attend the meeting. Mr. 
Elderkin and I went to Ogdensburg and he urged us to ac- 
company him. The meeting was called for 1 2 o'clock noon. 
About half past eleven we started for the town hall and were 
surprised to find that the meeting had been held and a reso- 
lution passed in opposition. Some one had, no doubt, turned 
the clock forward. Mr. Pope disregarded the action of the 
meeting and felt outraged at the attempt to prevent a hearing. 
He was a strong and independent man and stood by the 
position he had taken in the interest of education in Northern 
New York. The town refused to re-elect him the next year. 
It was a great surprise that Judge James of the Supreme Court 
should not only lend himself to such a course but was a leader 
in opposition. 

I have given a pretty full description of the occasion. At 
the hearing in Albany I first made the acquaintance of Dr. 
Malcolm MacVicar, who represented Brockport before the 
Board and one of the schools was located there. While the 
bill was pending in the Legislature he with others represented 
Brockport for a normal school and was against the bill to es- 
tablish four, thinking, no doubt, that the way was to provide 
one at a time and the first one to be at Brockport. He was 
loyal to the normal school plan and rendered good service as 
the first principal of our school. 

After the passage of the bill for the construction of the 
school, the Superintendent of Public Instruction said to me, 
" You must name the Local Board. I was for Plattsburg, 
and you have fairly beaten me and I will hold you responsible 
for the first Board." I objected to assuming the responsi- 
bility, but he insisted that it would not be wise to have the 
matter become a subject of controversy. I accepted the re- 



70 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

sponsibility and consulted with Mr. Parker only. I named as 
members of the board, without consulting any one of them, 
Henr>' Watkins, C. O. Tappan, Dr. Jesse Reynolds, N. S. 
Elderkin, Aaron Deming of Potsdam, Rev. Dr. Fisher of St. 
Lawrence University, Canton, John I. Gilbert, Principal of 
the Malone Academy, Roswell Pettibone of the Ogdens- 
burg Academy, and Mr. Robert Ormiston of Gouverneur. 
The latter did not qualify and Mr. Parker was named in his 
place. 

There was some dissatisfaction because of my assuming 
the responsibility as to the composition of the Board. There 
was an effort made to induce certain members to decline to 
act so that the Board could not organize. It was a matter 
of pure jealousy. The Superintendent notified the appointees 
and named a day for organization. I appeared before them 
and stated the reason why I had acted without conferring 
with members of the proposed Board. " I have no personal 
ends to serve, I do not ask any personal or political favors of 
you. I will say, however, that if there is any member who 
does not wish to act, his place will be promptly filled," and I 
went on to say that I felt sure the interests of the school would 
be served by their acceptance and trusted they would 
promptly organize the Board. The nonresidents consulted 
me as to the Chairman and Secretary and I recommended 
Mr. Watkins for President. He had formerly been a teacher. 
I suggested C. O. Tappan for Secretary. I could not claim 
either of them specially as personal friends. The different 
religious denominations, as well as the St. Lawrence Univer- 
sity and the Ogdensburg and Malone Academies, were rep- 
resented on the Board. 

I will add that I was the only man who appeared before 
the State Board in behalf of the location in this village. In 
Potsdam at the outset our friends had so little faith that no 
committees were sent to Albany to assist. 



State Normal School at Potsdam 71 

After the location was settled conditionally, all worked 
with zeal and rendered the most favorable service, and the 
effort could not have been successful without this co-opera- 
tion. The effort made to satisfy the public of the desirability 
of the location of such a school in our midst and the claim that 
the taxation for such purpose could not be very burdensome 
and would be spread over several years have been fully 
justified. It has grown steadily from the beginning, until at 
present the faculty comprises about twenty-eight members 
and about twenty-five hundred students have been grad- 
uated. The State has been liberal in the appropriations and 
the school promises to be as useful in the future as in the past. 

I am pleased to remark here that the reconstruction of the 
original Normal School building has recently been authorized 
in a bill introduced in the Legislature by my son and enacted 
during 191 1, appropriating $225,000 for the work. When 
this rebuilding has been completed the Normal School will 
stand as one of the finest and most modern institutions of its 
kind in the country. 




W. A. WHEELER 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. NAVAL 
OFFICER AND POLITICAL MATTERS 



CHAPTER VIII 

The Constitutional Convention, Naval Officer and Political 

Matters 

In 1 867 provision was made for a Constitutional Conven- 
tion to revise the Constitution, to vv^hich I was chosen as a 
delegate from this senatorial district. My colleagues in this 
district were Judge William C. Brown of Ogdensburg, Col. 
F. J. Seaver of Malone, and Leslie W. Russell of Canton. 
Hon. William A. Wheeler of Malone was elected as a dele- 
gate-at-large. Under the law calling the convention thirty- 
two delegates were to be chosen at large for the whole State, 
and at the election the electors could vote for only six- 
teen, so that those receiving the highest number of votes and 
those receiving the next highest would be chosen, in this way 
giving the minority party equal advantage with the majority. 
Mr. WTieeler was a candidate for President of the Conven- 
tion, as was also Hon. Charles G. Folger. The contest was 
quite an animated one, but Mr. Wheeler was successful. It 
happened to be my good fortune to have charge of his canvass 
and also to act as his secretary in making up the committees 
for the convention. I was made Chairman of the Committee 
on the Organization of the Legislature. 

The convention convened on the 4th of June, on which 
day Mr. L. H. Hiscock, father of Judge Hiscock of Syra- 
cuse, was assassinated by General Cole, and the vacancy 
caused by his death was filled by his brother, Frank Hiscock, 
of that city. Mr. Greeley was made Chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Suffrage. He was very attentive to the work until 
his article was prepared. 

There were two propositions which caused a great deal 



76 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

of discussion, one was doing away with the property quahfi- 
cation for negroes, and the other was the question of female 
suffrage. The leading Democrats of the convention opposed 
the change with reference to negro suffrage and finally de- 
manded separate submission of that question. The discussion 
was largely led by Mr. James Brooks, Editor of the New 
York Express, in opposition. The leading champion of fe- 
male suffrage was George William Curtis. As the proceed- 
ings became protracted, Mr. Greeley became very impatient 
with the slow progress of the work and finally took a leave 
of absence for quite a period, for which period, however, he 
refused to accept any compensation. 

One of the Democratic delegates, Mr. Conger, who occu- 
pied a good deal of the time of the convention and made 
rather long speeches, was on the floor when Mr. Greeley re- 
tired, and after an absence of two or three weeks, upon his 
return he found the same gentleman occupying the floor, and 
he said when he came in, '* My God, hasn't that man got 
through yet?" 

There was an understanding among the Republicans, who 
were in the majority, that when an article was up for con- 
sideration the Chairman of that Committee should govern the 
time occupied in its consideration, and was to be supported 
so as to hasten the work of the convention. While his article 
had been under consideration for some little time, a Mr. Du- 
Ganne broke the understanding by moving an adjournment, 
which was carried by the Democratic side with a few Re- 
publicans. After adjournment he was disposed to scold Mr. 
DuGanne for having interrupted the consideration of the 
report, to which the latter took offense. Next day, in the 
absence of Mr. Greeley, he rose to a question of privilege, 
intending to have a little amusement at the expense of Mr. 
Greeley, and said that he had been insulted. 



Constitutional Convention — Naval Officer, Etc. 11 

But he w^as induced to drop the subject and the newspaper 
men got around Mr. Greeley at the Delavan House and 
wanted to know what this difficulty was between him and 
Mr. DuGanne, that DuGanne had risen to a question of 
privilege, and Mr. Greeley said, " What did DuGanne say 
about it?" Some one replied, " He said you called him a 
damn fool." Mr. Greeley said, " If I could have put that 
question to the convention I would have carried it by a two- 
thirds vote." 

It was my good fortune to have a seat by the Hon. Wm. 
M. Evarts, whom I found to be a most genial gentleman. I 
came to know him very intimately, which acquaintance con- 
tinued as long as I was in public office. He was Secretary 
of State in President Hayes' Cabinet while I was Collector 
of the Port. I also had a seat beside Mr. Samuel J. Tilden 
at a hotel where we boarded during most of the period of 
the convention. This body was composed mostly of the 
leading lawyers and literary men of the State. Notwithstand- 
ing the great amount of talent and the long time taken up 
with the work of the convention, the people, the next year, 
rejected all of it except the judiciary article. 

In 1869 General Grant was the second time inaugurated 
as President, and Governor Fenton took his seat in the 
Senate. The question of New York federal patronage was 
considered the most important in a factional sense. 

Mr. Morgan had very strong friends in Washington, of 
course, having been Senator for several years. He was 
prominent in New York also and he had the sympathy and 
practical support of Senator Roscoe Conkling. 

The offices in New York to be filled were Collector, Naval 
Officer and Surveyor of the Port, at that time most lucra- 
tive, and so far as the patronage connected with those offices 
was concerned, considered most important and influential. 



78 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

Moses H. Grinnell was selected for Collector. Alonzo B. 
Cornell and myself were mentioned for Surveyor of the 
Port. Mr. Fenton had proposed my name, but Mr. Cornell 
was chosen and under such circumstances that Mr. Fenton 
was not satisfied because of an unjust assault upon myself, 
made through the New York Evening Post. Specific 
charges were made which in no way referred to me, and 
which the Post finally admitted related to another individual. 
The result was, however, that Mr. Elihu Washburn, who 
had been made Secretary of State, proposed to Mr. Fenton 
that I should be named for Naval Officer. Mr. Fenton 
said that he didn't know whether Merritt would accept it or 
not, and that he had nothing to say about it. However, my 
name was sent to the Senate. Not having been a candi- 
date for the place, and supposing there was some mistake 
about it, I left Albany in the evening. I arrived in Potsdam 
that night and the next morning about ten o'clock I received 
a telegram from George S. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treas- 
ury, that I had been appointed Naval Officer of the Port of 
New York, and asking me to proceed at once to the city, 
where I would find instructions at the post-office. I took the 
afternoon train and arrived in New York the next morning 
and received the papers and found that I had to give 
$20,000 bonds. It seemed to me then a very large sum. I 
went to the Metropolitan Hotel, where I saw the Hon. 
Lyman Tremaine of Albany, who was a guest, and there met 
also Hon. Waldo Hutchins, and they wanted to know about 
this appointment. I told them that I was as much surprised 
as they could be. 

I asked Mr. Hutchins about the importance of the position. 
" Why," he said, " it is a very important position." Gen- 
eral Dix had been the last incumbent and had just been 
made Minister to France. I said, " I do not know as I can 



Constitutional Convention — Naval Officer, Etc. 79 

take it, I have got to give large bonds." He asked me how 
large, and I told him. Mr. Tremaine turned to Mr. Hutch- 
ins and said, " Can't you and I fix this up for the General? " 
He said, " Why yes, we can attend to it, I guess." We 
went before the United States Commissioner, they qualified 
as my bondsmen, I took the oath of office, sent it to Wash- 
ington that afternoon and the next morning got a telegram to 
take possession of the office. 

When I became acquainted with the duties of the office I 
considered it, and now consider it, the best office for me that 
the President had in his gift. I held that position for about 
sixteen months, when Mr. Grinnell who, when appointed 
Collector, was credited with having raised a large sum of 
money for the campaign, was found not to be giving gen- 
eral satisfaction. He did not seem well fitted for executive 
duties, and as the Morgan and Conkling faction was not 
satisfied either, they induced General Grant to appoint 
Thomas Murphy in his place, thereby giving Mr. Grinnell 
the position of Naval Officer. In other words, they shot at 
him and he dropped down and knocked me off my perch. 
General Grant, in apologizing to me for my removal, said 
that in view of the valuable services which Mr. Grinnell had 
rendered, and as an old merchant of New York, he felt it 
incumbent upon him to do the best possible for him, and 
that I was a young man and would get recognition in due 
time, or words to that effect. 

These changes created quite a stir among the politicians 
of the State and the criticisms were quite strong on the Fenton 
side, especially concerning my removal. 

The following is a copy of a telegram sent by me to Mr. 
Fenton at this time : 
6 



80 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. 

To Hon. R. E. Fenton. July 1. 1870. 

U. S. Senate, 

Washington, D. C. 
Please do not compromise your position in the slightest degree to 
keep me in office. Whatever best for the country and Republican 
party should be done. 

E. A. MERRITT. 

To soften the feeling of opposition, the President tendered 
to me through Mr. Wheeler the position of Minister to 
Brazil, which I was very strongly urged to accept. It was 
not made with the concurrence of Mr. Greeley and Mr. 
Fenton, and I did not consider myself fitted for a diplomatic 
position and so I felt constrained to decline the offer. Presi- 
dent Grant nominated Mr. Greeley for Minister to Russia, 
but he declined it. 

Mr. Greeley said to me, " They would be very glad to 
get us out of the country." These tenders of positions to 
Mr. Greeley and myself were made in the spring of 1 871 and 
before we made the trip to Texas. 

Subsequent to the death of Mr. Greeley, what was called 
the Liberal Republican Organization was kept alive, and 
in 1874 Samuel J. Tilden was nominated for Governor by 
the Democratic party and a place was offered on the ticket 
to the Liberal Republicans. I was visited by a committee 
of Mr. Tilden's friends and tendered the position of Lieu- 
tenant-Governor on the ticket with him so far as the com- 
mittee could do it, which I very promptly declined. Mr. 
Dorsheimer, a Liberal Republican, consented to accept the 
position and was elected with Governor Tilden. 

In 1872, when Mr. Greeley was running for President, 
Francis Kernan of Utica, was the candidate for Governor 
and Chauncey M. Depew for Lieutenant-Governor. The 



Constitutional Convention — Naval Officer, Etc. 8 1 

latter stumped the State for the ticket and was my guest when 
he spoke in Potsdam. 

During the Constitutional Convention, as before stated, I 
became very well acquainted with Mr. 1 ilden and he begged 
ol me very strongly to stand with them in their canvass and 
made some very excellent promises. \V hen he was Governor 
he renewed his appeal and assurances. 

I said to him, " I do not like the condition of the Demo- 
cratic party, and I am not ready to join them, they need re- 
forming." 

*' Well," said he, " I assure you. General, I'll reform the 
Democratic party." I rep.ied that he would have a larger 
job than he appreciated at that time. He had previously 
made a very strong fight against Tweed's control in New 
York. 

In 1875 I was nominated for State Treasurer on the Re- 
publican ticket, practically to represent the Liberal Republi- 
can element. I had been previously consulted by the friends 
of Mr. Conkling, and especially by Charles Emory Smith, 
who, at that time, was Editor of the Evening Journal at 
Albany, and who had drafted the Republican platforms. 
He urged me to accept the position on the ticket and I con- 
sented in case the platform was satisfactory. I insisted espe- 
cially that there should be a resolution against a third term 
for General Grant for President; that the nomination was to 
be with unanimity and I should not ask any of my personal 
friends to advocate my nomination. I understood that this 
proposed platform was submitted to Senator Conkling, who 
at first demurred to the third term resolution, but finally con- 
sented that it might go in, that if the Liberal Republicans were 
satisfied at so small a thing as that they might have it. He 
had not thought at that time that General Grant would be a 



82 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 



candidate for a third term. This resolution, passed by the 
State Convention, served as an excuse for the anti-Grant Re- 
publicans when he was a candidate for the third term. The 
candidate for Secretary of State on that ticket was Clarence 
Seward; for Comptroller, Francis E. Spinner, and for State 
Prison Inspector, Rev. Mr. Ives. The ticket was defeated 
by an average of about 1 5,000 majority. 

In 1876 Mr. Conkling was candidate for President. 
James G. Blaine and Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio, were 
also candidates. When the convention assembled at Cin- 
cinnati it was evident that no one of these candidates had the 
majority of the convention favorable to his nomination. The 
friends of Mr. Blaine were very confident of success, having 
New England back of their candidate, and a great many votes 
in the west also. Soon after the assembling of the convention 
Mr. Blaine had a sunstroke in Washington and it was thought 
that he was likely to die. This proved a very great set back 
to the canvass by his friends. Bulletins were frequently 
posted at hotels, some favorable and others unfavorable as to 
his condition, but finally his improvement was such that his 
friends earnestly pushed his canvass. Mr. Hayes had been a 
successful Governor of Ohio and was regarded as very sound 
on financial questions. 

When the convention assembled in the afternoon the nomi- 
nation speeches were made. When Robert G. Ingersoll 
made that great speech of his nominating Mr. Blaine, 
it seemed to carry the convention by storm. The oppo- 
nents, however, combined to adjourn the convention until 
the next day without ballotting. During the night Mr. 
Conkling's New York friends and Don Cameron of 
Pennsylvania made a combination in a contingency to 
support Mr. Hayes in preference to Mr. Blaine. Late 



Constitutional Convention — Naval Officer, Etc. 83 

at night I learned of this combination and with Senator 
Dickinson we went to Blaine's headquarters, saw Mr. Hale 
and Senator Hamlin (who had been Vice-President with 
General Grant) hoping that they might in such a contin- 
gency use their influence for Hon. William A. Wheeler for 
President. They did not think we were correctly informed 
and felt very sure that Pennsylvania would support Mr. 
Blaine, as he had a great many friends in that State, was 
a high protective tariff man, and for other reasons. 

There had been no general movement to bring Mr. 
Wheeler forward for President, but he had a good many 
friends who had hoped he might be the ** dark horse " in the 
canvass. The result was, however, that Mr. Hayes was 
nominated. I was in the convention as a spectator, but was 
compelled on account of the extreme heat to leave the con- 
vention before the nomination was made. I went to a hotel 
where I met Governor Fenton, who was confident that Mr. 
Blaine was to be the nominee. I gave him my opinion that 
Mr. Hayes would be the nominee and while he was insisting 
very strongly his views of the case a man went up to the 
bulletin board right opposite the hotel and wrote the name of 
Rutherford B. Hayes for President. 

" Well, who is to be the candidate for Vice-President " 
he asked? 

" Why," I said, " Mr. Wheeler of New York." 

" But," said he, " his name is not mentioned. You seem 
to be confident all the while that Mr. Wheeler is to receive 
great honors," or words to that effect. 

" Well," I said, " we'll see," and in a very short time his 
name was written under Mr. Hayes' on the same bulletin 
board. 

I learned afterward that when the nomination of Vice- 



84 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

President was in order the New York delegation asked leave 
to retire for consultation and there was an intimation from 
the representatives of the Ohio delegation that they would 
nominate whoever New York wanted, and that whiie the 
New York delegation was in consultation as to whom they 
would present, whether L. P. Morton or S. L. Woodford, 
Mr. Poland of Vermont, nominated William A. Wheeler 
of New York. George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, seconded 
his nomination. It was reported to the New York delegation 
that Mr. Wheeler's name had already been put in nomination 
in the convention. 

rienry R. James of St. Lawrence, was a delegate in the 
convention. He left the delegation at once, went into the 
convention and took the platform, and in behalf of New York 
seconded the nomination of Mr. Wheeler, and he was prac- 
tically nominated before the New York delegation returned 
to the convention. Mr. Wheeler was not a candidate for the 
place and there was something of a feeling of disappointment 
on his part when he was informed of the fact. Senator Hoar 
was a warm friend of Mr. Wheeler and it was largely 
through his influence that he was nominated. On my return 
to New York I called upon Mr. Wheeler at Garrisons where 
he was stopping as visiting inspector at West Point Academy. 
He was not elated at the distinction he had received. He 
immediately considered what should be done to fill his place 
as Member of Congress from the St. Lawrence district. It 
v/ould naturally come to St. Lawrence county. 

I suggested that the place be offered to Juds;e A. B. 
James of the Suoreme Court, who was near the close of his 
term, and that Chas. O. Tappan be nominated for the judg- 
s^io. To this Mr. Wheeler assented. I went from there to 
Ballston, where the Judge was holding court, and proposed 
the matter to him. He was rather reluctant at first as he de- 



Constitutional Convention — Naval Officer, Etc. 85 



sired a renomination at the close of his term. After consult- 
ing with his friends, however, he consented and was elected 
and subsequently re-elected as a Member of Congress. 
Charles O. Tappan was elected Judge of the Supreme Court 
for the Fourth Judicial District to succeed Judge James. 




HORACE GREELEY 



CHAPTER IX 
HORACE GREELEY 



CHAPTER IX 
Horace Greeley 

In the fall of 1 864 the soldiers and officers of the State of 
New York were permitted to vote in the field or wherever it 
was convenient. I returned from the field in time to vote at 
that election and on my way back toward Washington I 
called upon Horace Greeley, whom I had previously known, 
and supported for the United States Senate, and explained to 
him my desire to be identified with the new administration in 
our State instead of remaining in the army. 

At that time the Hon. Calvin T. Hulburd was the member 
of Congress from the St. Lawrence district, and, while a 
friend of mine, he was committed for another candidate for 
a position. 

I explained the matter to Mr. Greeley and I said, " Mr. 
Hulburd wants an interview with you in regard to some 
legislation." 

He fixed the time and said, " you come with him." 

So when we got through with the business he said to Mr. 
Hurlburd, " Captain Merritt tells me that he would like to 
be identified with the new administration, and I think he 
ought to have a place." 

Mr. Hurlburd asked him if the was willing to give him a 
letter. Mr. Greeley said, " No, I don't give letters to any- 
body, but you are going back to Washington and you tell 
Mr. Fenton (who had just been elected Governor) that I 
wish to have him put Captain Merritt on his staff and if he 
wants to see me about it I will come over to Washington." 

Mr. Hurlburd did so and I consider that my appointment 

[89] 



90 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

as Quartermaster-General on Governor Fenton's staff was 
made in consequence of the request of Mr. Greeley. 

My relations with him from that time on became very inti- 
mate. I saw him nearly every week when I was in the city 
and attended the same church and occupied his pew. He 
was a warm friend of the Rev. E. H. Chapin. 

This friendship continued until his death in 1872. In the 
spring of 1871 Mr. Greeley received an invitation from the 
Agricultural Society of Texas to give an agricultural address 
and he accepted the invitation, but his health was not very 
good and it was deemed desirable by his friends that he 
should have some friend accompany him on this trip as a 
traveling companion and to look after him generally. He 
finally informed them that if I could be induced to go he 
would be glad to have me and they sent for me. I con- 
sidered it a great compliment and gladly accepted the invita- 
tion. 

Mr. Greeley had been considered one of the most offensive 
men to the south prior to the war and only after he had pro- 
claimed his doctrine of Universal Amnesty and Universal 
Suffrage did they become interested in him, and of course his 
trip was advertised in advance and was quite sensational on 
account of so much anxiety to see and hear him. He re- 
fused to use passes on the railroad, which had been sent to 
him unsolicited. 

While passing through the state of Mississippi the levees 
of the Mississippi broke and flooded the lower portion of the 
country, so that we could not reach New Orleans by train 
and we had to take a steamboat at Lake Ponchatrain. While 
in New Orleans he was given a banquet, at which the prom- 
inent citizens of the city. Union soldiers and officers, as well 
as rebel officers, were present and it was an imposing affair. 

Mr. Greeley was anxious to see something of the cultivation 



Horace Greeley 91 

of cane and especially the steam plowing, and so a steamboat 
was chartered and we went with a large party down the 
Mississippi river about sixty miles to what is called " Mag- 
nolia Plantation " owned by Mr. Effingham Lawrence. Mr. 
Greeley was very much interested in everything pertaining to 
agriculture. He had never seen anything of that kind of 
cultivation. 

We arrived in New Orleans late at night and after we had 
reached the hotel, very much exhausted, Mr. Greeley said, 
" I have sometimes been called a philosopher. I clo not think 
I am much of one, but if I was ever entitled to the appella- 
tion I am to-night." 

I said, " How's that, Mr. Greeley? " 

" I have been in the presence of a man for twelve hour* 
under circumstances where I could not tell him what a 
damned scoundrel he was," he said. He told me that this 
man had recommended his brother to him, who wanted to 
borrow $5,000 in New York, saying that he was good for 
the money and wished that he should introduce him to some 
bank. Of course that practically meant that Mr. Greeley 
would indorse his note, and when it matured he had it to 
pay, and when Mr. Greeley wrote him about it he said he did 
not owe him anything. 

As soon as our visit at New Orleans ended we took the 
railroad and steamboat to Galveston and there were met by 
a committee of the State Agricultural Association, and a ban- 
quet was also given, at which various speeches were made, 
all of a friendly character. 

The sentiment to which Mr. Greeley was to respond was 
the Empire State of the North to the Empire State of the 
South. The introduction was of a character to suggest some- 
thing of politics and Mr. Greeley was very free in his com- 
ments on the cause of the rebellion and finding fault with the 



92 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

leaders of the Southern people, which caused some offense to 
his auditors. But it was a vigorous presentation of the north- 
ern views. 

From there we proceeded to Houston where the State Fair 
was to be held, and Mr. Greeley delivered his address to a 
very large gathering. The people came from long distances 
with their wagons and camped about the grounds. We were 
most cordially received and entertained while we were in 
Texas under the charge of the representatives of the Fair. 
We had an excursion with a large number of the prominent 
citizens of Houston to the intersection of the railroad with the 
International R. R. north of Dallas. 

The subject of Mr. Greeley's address at Houston was 
"Suggestions to Farmers." This speech though delivered 
forty years ago is directly in line with the spirit of the modern 
thought concerning the subject of agriculture, and the teach- 
ings of the address tend to emphasize his thorough knowledge 
of the fundamentals of that great topic of the present times. 

The closing maxims of the address were as follows: 

" Let me close with a few maxims, applicable to cultivation in 
every clime and under all circumstances, whether among popula- 
tions dense as that of China or sparse as that of British America. 

I. Only good Farming pays. He who sows or plants without 
reasonable assurance of good crops annually, might better earn wages 
of some capable neighbor than work for so poor a paymaster as he 
is certain to prove himself. 

II. The good farmer is proved such by the steady appreciation of 
his crops. Any one may reap an ample harvest from a fertile virgin 
soil; the good farmer alone grows good crops at first, and better and 
better ever afterward. 

III. It is far easier to maintain the productive capacitj'^ of a farm 
than to restore it. To exhaust its fecundity, and then attempt its 
restoration by buying costly commercial fertilizers, is wasteful and 
irrational. 

IV. The good farmer sells m.ainly such products as are least ex- 



Horace Greeley 93 

haustive. Necessity may constrain him, for the first year or two, to 
sell Grain, or even Hay; but he will soon send off his surplus mainly 
in the form of Cotton, or Wool, or Meat, or Butter and Cheese, or 
something else, that returns to the soil nearly all that is taken from 
it. A bank account daily drawn upon, while nothing is deposited 
to its credit, must soon respond ** No funds; " so with a farm simi- 
larly treated. 

V. Rotation is at least negative Fertilization. It may not posi- 
tively enrich a farm; it will at least retard and postpone its impov- 
erishment. He who grows Wheat after Wheat, Corn after Corn, 
for twenty years, will need to emigrate before that term is fulfilled. 
The same farm cannot support (nor endure) him longer than that. 

VI. Wisdom is never dear, provided the article be genuine. I 
have known farmers who toiled constantly from daybreak to dark, 
yet died poor, because, through ignorance, they wrought of disad- 
vantage. If every farmer would devote two hours of each day to 
reading and reflection, there would be fewer failures in farming 
than there are. 

VII. The best investment a farmer can make for his children is 
that which surrounds their youth with the rational delights of a 
beauteous, attractive home. TTie dwelling may be small and rude, 
yet a few flowers will embellish, as choice fruit-trees will enrich and 
gladden it; while grass and shade are within the reach of the hum- 
blest. Hardly any labor done on a farm is so profitable as that 
which makes the wife and children fond and proud of their home. 

VIII. A good, practical Education, including a good trade, is a 
better outfit for a youth than a grand estate with the drawback of an 
empty mind. Many parents have slaved and pinched to leave their 
children rich, when half the sum thus lavished would have profited 
them far more had it been devoted to the cultivation of their 
minds, the enlargement of their capacity to think, observe, and 
work. The one structure that no neighborhood can afford to do 
without is the schoolhouse. 

IX. A small library of well-selected books in his home has saved 
many a youth from wandering into the baleful ways of the Prodi- 
gal Son. Where paternal strictness and severity would have bred 
nothing but dislike and a fixed resolve to abscond at the first oppor- 
tunity, good books and pleasant surroundings have weaned many a 
youth from his first wild impulse to go to sea or across the continent. 



94 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

and made him a docile, contented, obedient, happy Hngerer by the 
parental fireside. In a family, however rich or poor, no other good 
is so cheap or so precious as thoughtful, watchful love. 

X. Most men are born poor; but no man, who has average capac- 
ities and tolerable luck, need remain so. And the farmer's calling, 
though proffering no sudden leaps, no ready short-cuts to opulence, 
is the surest of all ways from poverty and want to comfort and 
independence. Other men must climb; the temperate, frugal, dili- 
gent, provident farmer may grow into competence and every exter- 
nal necessary to happiness. Each year of his devotion to his home- 
stead may find it more valuable, more attractive than the last, and 
leave it better still. 

Farmers of Texas! I bring you mainly old and homely truths. 
No single suggestion of this Address can be new to all of you; 
most of them, I presume, will be familiar to the majority. There are 
discoveries in Natural Science and improvements in Mechanics 
which conduce to the efficiency of Agriculture; but the principles 
which underlie this first of arts are old as Agriculture itself. Greek 
and Roman sages made observations so acute and practical that the 
farmers of to-day may ponder them with profit, while modern liter- 
ature is padded with essays on farming not worth the paper they 
have spoiled. And yet, the generation whereof I am part has wit- 
nessed great strides in your vocation, while the generation prepar- 
ing to take our places will doubtless witness still greater. I bid 
you hold fast to the good, with minds receptive of and eager for the 
better, and rejoice in your knowledge that there is no nobler pursuit 
and no more inviting soil than those which you proudly call your 
own." 

We started for Austin and went as far as Giddings, about 
one hundred miles west of Houston, which was then the 
end of the railroad at that time just being constructed. In 
consequence of a heavy rainstorm which raised the river so 
that it could not well be forded, we were compelled to re- 
trace our steps and left for Columbus. 

This city is located on the west bank of the Columbus 
river. This trip was a very interesting one. On it I saw one 



Horace Greeley 95 

hundred and ten acres of corn that was tasseled out and 
which measured on an average eight feet high. 

We visited a colored school there and saw the teachers, 
and were interested in their methods. We returned to Gal- 
veston and the colored people in that city gave Mr. Greeley 
a serenade to which he responded in a political speech, which 
was listened to with marked attention. He was frequently 
applauded, especially in his references to the restoration of 
the Union. This was the principal political speech he made 
while on his trip. 

In the course of his Galveston speech Mr. Greeley made the 
following explanation of a fact for which he had been criti- 
cised : 

" When the proclamation was issued by President Johnson charg- 
ing Jefferson Davis and other Southern leaders with complicity, and 
that the Southern people had countenanced assassination, I rejoice 
to know that the call for revenge was over-ruled by the forbearance 
of the North. Any death caused by legal process for treason 
after the war would have caused great bitterness. I therefore rejoice 
that I belong to a people wise enough to recollect this. It was widely 
circulated that I was condemned by the Union League for becoming 
security for Jefferson Davis. Those who blamed me for it, though 
I did not defend myself or go near them, were beaten three to one, 
while thousands denounced them. The better sense of the mass of 
the North justified me. I did not do this out of any particular friend- 
ship, for we were always opposed to each other. The act was an 
effort on my part to reach the heart of the Southern people, who felt 
that their cause was involved with Jeff Davis. I therefore did it for 
the Southern people and not for Jeff Davis though they were equally 
guilty with him." 

We returned to New Orleans and took passage on the 
steamboat Robert E. Lee up the Mississippi river to Vicks- 
burg. 

In the meantime Mr. Greeley had received an invitation to 
deliver an address at Memphis, Tenn., which he accepted. 

7 



96 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

Upon our arrival at Vicksburg, where we met some New 
York people, a committee had come down from Jackson to 
urge Mr. Greeley to deliver an address in Jackson, and as the 
train would arrive there early in the evening, and as he could 
not leave until late, he consented to do so. He took up the 
subject of " Education and the Duties of the People with 
Regard to the Education of the Colored People especially." 
He warned the people of the danger of permitting the young 
of their race to grow up in ignorance and vice and urged that 
the wall of prejudice should be broken down. He went so 
far as to urge his hearers to commend the nobility shown by 
those Christian teachers who had left home and friends to help 
to educate the poor and unfortunate race, and he also warned 
them not to be influenced by demagogues against the true in- 
interests of their country. 

We proceeded from Jackson to Memphis and were de- 
layed on the way by a train wreck, so that a special train was 
sent out to meet us and we, in consequence, arrived pretty 
late. The audience had already gathered at the opera house, 
which was full to overflowing. Mr. Greeley delivered one of 
his characteristic lectures. 

The Memphis Advocate thus described Mr. Greeley: 

" Mr. Greeley's appearance when met on the train was more 
that of a plain country farmer than anything else. Instead of the 
historic white hat and coat which everyone talks of in connection 
with Mr. Greeley, but which have probably not distinguished him for 
a quarter of a century, he wore an alpaca coat with light vest and 
dark trousers, with a straw hat at his side. Except th^t his clothing 
fitted him badly — great men must have their eccentricities — there 
was nothing remarkable about it. His head is massive, face broad, 
kindly and benevolent, while in manners he is cordial and attractive. 
These, with a heavy, vigorous frame and an exceedingly awkward 
gait, rolling like a ship at sea in a storm, were his distinguishing 
characteristics. On the top, his head is quite bald, but white locks 
appear bounteously from under the broad sombrero which gives to the 
philosopher a decidedly venerable appearance." 



Horace Greeley 97 

The subject of his address at Memphis was " Self-Made 
Men." He referred to Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Boone, 
Robert Burns and Shakespeare. In beginning his remarks 
Mr. Greeley said that many years before, he had a conversa- 
tion with Wm. Henry Hurlbut, an eminent scholar, and had 
been told by him that there were many young men who came 
to him annually with parchments on which were inscribed 
" Master of Arts " and " Bachelor of Arts " from the uni- 
versities, Yale and Harvard and others, and he found that 
not one in ten who had received what was called a classical 
education knew the A B C of the Greek language in a short 
time, and he would rather that young men should learn to 
play the fiddle than receive a classical education, for then 
they would remember it. Mr. Greeley said that he considered 
that the teaching of algebra was to a certain extent a misap- 
propriation of time; and the drift of his argument upon this 
subject was that the young should be taught those branches 
of education which would fit them for the responsibilities of 
life. Speaking of Shakespeare he referred to him as ** the 
worldly-minded, shrewd Shakespeare, the greatest if not the 
best of British poets — this pale fellow of nobles and players, 
who brought forth prose and poetry, wit and pathos, almost 
in the same breath." In closing his address Mr. Greeley said: 
" I would have the physical element primarily regarded be- 
cause I would have every child to earn his living with his 
hands. Had not Franklin been an early and eminent printer, 
or some other good workman, he would not have been the 
great philosopher which he was. He comprehended what 
I would have everyone learn — to use his hands effectively." 
Mr. Greeley closed by saying that there should be a time for 
play and a time for work, and that the day would come when 
there would be a university in every township, and when the 



98 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

sinews of men would have to give way before the powers of 
steam and machinery. 

After the lecture quite a number of the prominent citi- 
zens called upon him at the hotel and were presented. 
They were principally secessionists, and at that time were 
greatly disturbed because of the legislation to suppress what 
was called the " ku klux." They thought that the legislation 
was not justified by the facts and were anxious to give Mr. 
Greeley information on the subject, claiming that the charges 
made against the South in that way were unwarranted and 
that they were being belied, so to speak. Mr. Greeley said 
that the Tribune had sent a couple of very reliable men down 
to investigate and that the facts gathered in Northern Georgia 
and Tennessee established beyond a doubt that the colored 
people had been oppressed. 

One of the men said, " What do you think of the legisla- 
tion?" and Mr. Greeley replied, " I am not much of a lawyer, 
but I think there are over one hundred negroes living to-day 
who wouldn't be except for that law." 

The next day we took a drive about the city and called at 
the hotel to v/hich we had directed our correspondence to be 
sent and at which Jefferson Davis was a guest. The gentle- 
man keeping the hotel was anxious Mr. Greeley should come 
into the house and asked him if he didn't care to meet Mr. 
Davis, and Mr. Greeley said that he did not know Mr. Davis. 
If Mrs. Davis was there he would call upon her. He had 
previously met her in New York. 

When we got back to the Overton hotel Mr. Davis came 
and called on him and I was present at the interview. It was 
all very commonplace. Mr. Greeley inquired after some men 
he had known in Congress and asked after Mrs. Davis, etc. 
We were nearly ready to take the train at this time. 

I refer to this little episode more particularly because after- 



Horace Greeley 99 

ward a good deal was made of the occasion when Mr. 
Greeley was running for the Presidency, his opponents claim- 
ing that he had been hobnobbing with Mr. Davis. 

On the way up from Memphis to Louisville we occupied 
a special car and had not proceeded very far before a gentle- 
man came in and walked up and down the aisle. The con- 
ductor whispered to me and said, " That is Isham G. Harris, 
formerly Governor of Tennessee." He did not ask to be 
introduced to Mr. Greeley, but soon commenced conversation 
and they sat down together and I got near enough to hear 
the conversation. Mr. Harris referred to the condition of the 
country and hoped Mr. Greeley had had a pleasant trip, etc., 
etc., and finally the subject of politics was referred to. Mr. 
Greeley frankly said that he thought the war was brought on 
by the leading politicians, that the people did not want to 
secede and that they were practically surprised into war. 
Mr. Harris took exception to this and Mr. Greeley went on 
and quoted statements made by Senators and Representatives 
at different times and places throughout the South, quoting 
their language, until Mr. Harris had to say that he lived there 
and knew what the sentiment was. 

Mr. Greeley said, " You may sir, but you do not under- 
stand the situation," or words to that effect. 

Pretty soon Mr. Harris left the train and when I informed 
him that I had expected him to quote I. G. Harris, he said, 
" If he had ever said anything worth remembering, I should." 

When we arrived at Cincinnati we stayed there over Sun- 
day. In the morning Mr. Greeley said, " Well, we must go 
to church." I said, *' I am tired Mr. Greeley." " Well," he 
said, " I've broken off a great many good habits, but I haven't 
broken off the habit of going to church." 

" Well," I said, " there are no churches of your denomina- 
tion here." 



100 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

He said, " There's always a Methodist church. My 
mother was a Methodist and I hke to hear the psalm singing," 
so he went to church, and they found he was there and 
induced him to deliver an address to the Sunday school. We 
then returned to New York. 

I was astonished at the retentive memory and familiarity of 
Mr. Greeley with all of the past political controversies of this 
country regarding the South. 

In 1872 when the Liberal Republican conference was 
called to meet at Cincinnati I took Mr. Greeley's draft of reso- 
lution which he hoped that the conference might adopt. He 
did not at that time expect to be a candidate for President. 
His name, however, had been mentioned in the newspapers. 
He said that he wouldn't go to the conference because it 
would be charged that he was going there to promote his 
candidacy. He said that if I would telegraph him to come 
to Cincinnati he would know that his name would not be 
mentioned and that he would go. He was, however, nom- 
inated. 

Mr. Greeley had not been in good health and the campaign 
was a great strain upon him. He made a most wonderful 
set of speeches in the campaign. He had been indorsed by 
the Democratic party also, but the leaders of that party were 
hostile to him and did not support him cordially. 

After the October election in North Carolina and Penn- 
sylvania, which was carried by the Democratic party. Gov- 
ernor Fenton and I had an interview with Mr. Greeley and 
went over the situation as we saw it then. Mr. Greeley said 
that if Democrats would not support as good a man as Mr. 
Buckelaw, who was running for Governor in Pennsylvania, 
he had no reason to expect them to support him, and that he 
had given up the contest. 

He said, *' I have done all I can, I must now go to the bed- 



Horace Greeley 101 

side of my dying wife." She died soon after. I invited him 
to take a trip to the Adirondacks as soon as the election was 
over for rest and recuperation, which he so much needed. 
He could not under the circumstances agree to do so. From 
that day neither of us were disappointed in the result of the 
election. 

Mr. Greeley was a most kind-hearted gentleman, respond- 
ing freely and promptly to any call for charity. I called upon 
him once in the editorial rooms and a poor woman came ask- 
ing for some pecuniary help. He was too busy to talk with 
her as to her special needs and he handed her a five dollar 
bill without seeming to notice the denomination. His deal- 
ings with Cornelius Vanderbilt, Junior, show how he could 
be moved by an appeal. Mrs. Vanderbilt, the mother of 
Cornelius, Jr., appealed to Mr. Greeley to look after and ad- 
vise her son. The young man was somevrhat wayward. His 
mother said that Mr. Vanderbilt, Sr., was impatient with his 
son and was not disposed to aid him in a business way. The 
result was that Mr. Greeley loaned the young man various 
amounts and indorsed for him until the amount exceeded $40,- 
000. The old Commodore warned Mr. Greeley against aid- 
ing Cornelius, as he stated that the latter had not a head for 
business and that he would not be responsible for his debts. 
It did not seem to deter Mr. Greeley from complying with the 
wishes of the mother. After Mr. Greeley died John F. Cleve- 
land, his brother-in-law, was made receiver of his estate. Mr. 
Cleveland asked me to aid him in the examination of his 
effects. The question arose as to v/hat should be done with 
the evidences of Cornelius' debts? They were finally shown 
to the Commodore, who said that he had warned Mr. Greeley 
against aiding Cornelius, and he would not promise to pay 
them, but, as Mr. Greeley was a public man his family ought 
not to suffer for his financial mistakes, or words to that effect. 



102 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

and that he would call upon Mr. Greeley's daughters. He 
did so and gave each of them a $5,000 bond of the Harlem 
railroad. After the Commodore's death his will only pro- 
vided the income on $500,000, I think, for Cornelius, which 
amount was not satisfactory and a contest by him with his 
sister followed which resulted in a compromise which made 
it possible for Cornelius to pay Mr. Greeley's estate the prin- 
cipal and interest, amounting to over $60,000. Cornelius 
stated to me that he should not have contested the will except 
to procure enough to pay this indebtedness and that Mr. 
Greeley was the best friend he ever had. Mr. Greeley's inter- 
est in young Cornelius was further shown by a request made 
of me while I was Naval Officer at New York. The follow- 
ing letter from Mr. Greeley explains the circumstance: 

NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 

New York. April 4, 1869. 
Dear Sir. — The bearer is my friend Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., 
who has special reasons for seeking an honorable position under the 
government. He will not hold it long at any rate, and would try 
to discharge its duties with signal fidelity. If he could prove to 
his father that he is able and willing to earn an honorable independ- 
ence he would be able soon to do much better for himself than 
anyone else can do for him. I beg you to give him an interview 
and if there shall be anything suitable in your gift, offer him an 
appointment. Yours, 

HORACE GREELEY. 
Hon. E. A. MERRITT. 

Naval Officer. 



The following are some of the letters received by me from 
Mr. Greeley: 



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Horace Greeley 103 

NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 

New York, November 1 7, 1 869. 
Dear Sir. — I wish you would meet at my room here at 1 A. M. 
Friday a few friends whom I have asked to come here and consider 
the feasibility of preventing feuds in the Republican organization of 
our city henceforth. Yours, 



HORACE GREELEY. 



General E. A. MERRITT. 
Naval Officer, 

U. S. Custom H. 



NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 

New York, October 31, 1871. 
My dear Sir. — Our city is in doubt but I shall be disappointed 
if we do not come out with three Assemblymen here and as many 
in Brooklyn, and 3 Senators this side of Albany, where we now 
have none. 

As to the State ticket, I cannot tell. I think they will have 
less than 30,000 average in the city, but I may be mistaken. I 
hope we shall elect Barlow, and perhaps one or two others. 

Yours, 
HORACE GREELEY. 
Gen. E. A. Merritt, 

Potsdam, N. Y. 



NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 

New York, November 1 4, 1 869. 
Dear Sir. — The bearer, Mr, Fursheim, believes he has the clue 
to detect an extensive smuggling business now in progress. 
I commend him to your attention and confidence. 

Yours, 

HORACE GREELEY. 
Gen. E. A. MERRITT, 
Naval Officer, 

Custom House. 



104 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 

New York. June 20. 1871. 
Friend Merritt. — I have yours of 1 8th at Potsdam. I cannot 
go to your county next week because I have promised to go to 
Ohio the week after to speak at the laying the corner stone of 
Buchtel College. I cannot be absent both next week and the week 
after. 

I expect Gov. Fenton here just before and just after your corner 
stone laying at Albany. You must be here then. 

Yours, 
HORACE GREELEY. 
Gen. E. A. MERRITT. 



NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 

New York. March 31. 1869. 
Dear Sir. — I have just heard by Mr. Cleveland that you would 
like to have me justify as one of your sureties. 

I should like especially to do so. I go out of town in the morn- 
ing and shall not be back till Saturday evening. If you want me 
to qualify as one of your sureties, leave word and I will do so next 
Monday. I can swear to a property of not less than $50,000. 

Yours, 
HORACE GREELEY. 

Hon. E. A. MERRITT. 

Naval Officer. 

N. Y. 



NEW YORK TRIBUNE. 

New York. M'ay 1 7. 1 869. 
Dear Sir. — I dare not come to the Custom-House lest the office 
seeking wolves should devour me. so I venture to ask you to ascer- 
tain of Mr. Grinnell his decision in the case of Dexter Allen, appli- 
cant for a position a? entry clerk, in whose behalf I interceded. 
I do not wish to importune Mr. Grinnell. nor to add anything to 



Horace Greeley '05 

what I have already said in the premises, but simply to ascertain the 
fate of Mr. Allen's application. Yours, 

HORACE GREELEY. 

Gen. E. A. MERRITT. 

Naval Officer. 



TELEGRAM. 
THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. 
Dated. New York. May 1 8. 1 868. 
Received at Chicago. May 18. 1868. 5:10 P. M. 
To Gen. Edwin A. Merritt. 

Tremont House. 
You are fully authorized to say that I prefer the nomination as 
Vice President of Governor Fenton. 

HORACE GREELEY. 



CHAPTER X 

SURVEYOR AND COLLECTOR OF THE PORT OF 
NEW YORK 



CHAPTER X 
Surveyor and Collector of the Port of New York 

Mr. Rutherford B. Hayes and Mr. Wm. A. Wheeler 
were supposed to be elected President arid Vice-President, 
but the question was not settled until the decision of what 
was called the electoral commission was created by Congress, 
consisting of fifteen members, to consider the election of elec- 
tors in some of the southern states, especially Florida and 
Louisiana. It was claimed in both instances that the majority 
of the votes in these states had been given to the Democratic 
electors, but the charge was made that it had been brought 
about through fraud and intimidation. Especially was this 
the case in Louisiana. The final decision of this electoral 
commission, by eight to seven, declared the Republican elec- 
tors chosen, which gave them one majority in the electoral 
college. 

Early in the spring of 1877 President Hayes decided to 
change the customs officials at the port of New York. At 
that time Chester A. Arthur was Collector, Alonzo B. Cor- 
nell was Naval Officer and Gen. Geo. H. Sharpe was Sur- 
veyor, but his term had expired. He finally nominated Mr. 
Roosevelt for Collector, L. Bradford Prince for Naval Officer 
and myself for Surveyor. The first two were rejected by 
the Senate and I was confirmed. 

After adjournment of Congress the relations between Gen- 
eral Arthur and Mr. Cornell with the Treasury Department 
had become so strained that the President determined then 
to make the changes which he had attempted to make before 
adjournment. Popular opinion generally was against any 
further changes at that time and the Republican newspapers 

[109] 



1 1 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

of New York were quite severe in criticism of Mr. Hayes f 
the movement. By the time they got ready to act I was n 
very well and had a short leave of absence and came home 
Potsdam. I received a telegram asking me to proceed 
New York immediately if possible to meet a gentleman fro 
Washington on a matter of great importance. I went to Ne 
York and there met Hon. John D. Defrees, who was tl 
public printer and a great friend of President Hayes. V 
informed me of the proposed program and tendered me t! 
position of Collector of the Port. I temporarily declined to co 
sider it. I thought the action unwise at that time and thoug 
it was very sure to increase the factional controversy in o 
party in New York and I had very great distrust of my abili 
to conduct that office in view of the bitter hostility that wou 
be engendered, inasmuch as General Arthur was Chairm 
of the State Republican Committee and also of the Repu 
lican Committee of the City of New York, and nearly all 
the prominent positions in the customs house were filled 1 
his personal friends. Mr. Defrees went back to Washingti 
but asked me to remain until I should hear from them. Ne 
day I received a telegram from John Sherman, Secretary 
theTreasury, to meet him at the Fifth Avenue Hotel on t 
arrival of the Congressional Limited Railway train. At tli 
interview he agreed with me that it was unwise to take tl 
step at that time, but said the President was stronger than t 
people supposed and he had made up his mind to make t 
changes and that he personally desired me to accept the po 
tion as Collector, and I said that I wanted twenty-four hoi 
to consider it. He also outlined what they proposed to < 
in case I declined, naming two persons to whom the tenc 
would be made in case the second one refused. Secreta 
Sherman urged me to accept the Collectorship, but he agre 
with me that the proposed action on the part of the Preside 




R. B. HAYES 



Surveyor and Collector, Port of New York 1 1 1 

would be unwise. He asked me to formulate my reasons. I 
did so, when he said ; " I agree with you, but Mr. Hayes has 
made up his mind to act and is stronger than the people sup- 
pose and in this matter he will not listen to my advice. If 
this should reach him he might name another gentleman even 
before my return." So it was not sent. He urged me 
strongly on his own account and wished a favorable response 
the next day. The newspapers of the city had condemned 
the first effort to remove General Arthur and Mr. Cornell. 
I called upon Mr. Whitelaw Reid, editor of the New York 
Tribune, late at night at his residence and explained the situa- 
tion to him. He asked me to call the next morning. He said 
that while he did not approve of the proposed changes, if 
I accepted I should be well treated personally. He desired 
an opportunity to see Mr. Cornell, who was Naval Officer, 
before any announcement should be made. I, that day, in- 
formed Mr. Sherman that I would assent to his wishes. I 
had, as Naval Officer and Surveyor, learned the importance 
of prompt action on the part of the Secretary of the Treasury 
on all matters requiring his action on Custom House matters. 
To this he assented, and I attribute my success in that office 
largely to the prompt action of the Treasury Department 
upon all controverted questions. I immediately called upon 
General Arthur and explained the situation to him and the 
reasons why I had assented to the program ; that a change had 
been determined upon and that my policy would be to con- 
tinue all that part of the Custom House force which were 
properly performing their duties. Our relations of personal 
friendship continued, notwithstanding his disappointment. 
Mr. Sherman, on behalf of the President, tendered him the 
position of Consul-General at Paris, which he declined. 

I finally came to the conclusion that I should be greatly 
embarrassed as Surveyor by the appointment of either one of 

8 



1 1 2 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

these proposed. As I was the Executive Officer outside of 
the Customs House, and supposed to be particularly friendly 
to the administration, I might be held responsible for any 
political changes, and I finally consented to accept the posi- 
tion. 

At that time the law did not permit an absolute removal 
of an officer confirmed by Senate, but they might be sus- 
pended without consent of the Senate, and during the suspen- 
sion some person might be appointed to discharge the duties. 
I advised the retention of Mr. Cornell in the Naval Office. 
I had known him well and regarded him personally as a 
friend, but they were not willing to consent. Then I advised, 
if I took the place, that Col. Silas W. Burt, who was Special 
Deputy in the Naval Office, be named Naval Officer. I 
had a pleasant and confidential talk with Mr. Arthur and 
explained the situation to him as well as I was able, that it 
was not a question whether I should take it or someone else, 
as they had made up their mind to make the change. 

Col. Silas W. Burt and myself were appointed and I rec- 
ommended the appointment of Gen. Charles K. Graham for 
Surveyor of the Port, which office would become vacant by 
my promotion. These appointments would hold until the 
close of the next session of the Senate only. 

Upon the assembling of Congress on the first of De- 
cember, the nominations were made in the regular 
way and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Navi- 
gation, of which Senator Roscoe Conkling of New York was 
chairm.an. Our names remained in the Senate until the third 
of February and the Committee reported against our con- 
firmation. 

Gen. John B. Gordon, of Georgia, a Democrat, and 
Senator Matthews of Ohio, a Republican, were my principal 
supporters in the Senate. General Gordon was a member 



Surveyor and Collector, Port of New York 1 1 3 

of the committee which considered the nominations and he 
afterwards told me that the debate in executive sessions of the 
Senate upon the subject became very bitter; so bitter, in fact, 
that at an earlier date it might have led to personal encounters. 

This controversy was considered a factional one in our 
State and finally became of considerable national importance, 
and as Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Prince had been rejected by 
the same Senate, Mr. Conkling was very confident of pre- 
venting our confirmation. Whatever may have been said 
with regard to previous administration of the Custom House, 
we were enabled to so satisfy the business community as to 
secure their favor and in a certain sense, our confirmation 
ceased to be a party question. Representations were made 
pretty strongly that we had improved the Custom service, 
and whether true or not, it had its effect. 

While the nominations were pending the friends of Arthur 
and Cornell organized a very strong party and had head- 
quarters in Washington, and I had reason to suppose that the 
confirmation would be very doubtful and I so felt at the time 
of my appointment, but I felt at that time that if I declined 
it would practically take away the sympahy of the adminis- 
tration from me and I had better undertake it than be a 
subordinate of some collector in whom I had not the fullest 
confidence as to his political and business judgment. 

Mr. Conkling was able to secure the support and friendship 
of most of the Senators in the eastern part of the country. 
Democratic as well as Republican, Senators McPherson of 
New Jersey, Eaton of Connecticut and others, and while he 
and Mr. Blaine were not in accord, they agreed as to the 
policy of rejecting President Hayes' nominations. 

Mr. Hamlin, the late Vice-President, who was then Sena- 
tor, and who was a personal friend of mine, opposed my con- 
firmation. He apologized to me afterward, and assured me 



1 1 4 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

that it was on account of his opposition to the President's 
policy. 

I made only one visit to Washington with reference to the 
confirmation and, of course, consulted with President Hayes 
and Mr. Sherman, but I did not go near the Senate. I had 
an interview with two or three Senators by accident, one 
of whom was Senator Voorhees of Indiana, who very strongly 
favored my appointment, and said that he would support me, 
but when the time came he did not. 

I had an interview with Hon. Francis Kernan, United 
States Senator from New York, with whom I was well ac- 
quainted, having served in the Assembly and also in the Con- 
stitutional Convention with him. He explained to me that 
he was very much embarrassed by the question, that his 
Democratic friends in New York were divided and that while 
he was personally friendly to me he thought he could not 
take any part in it. 

I said to him, " I've no claim upon you either politically 
or personally, but of course I would be glad to be confirmed 
if I can be." 

Upon my return to New York I deemed it necessary to 
secure Democratic support and I invited my old friend, Hon. 
James F. Pierce, State Senator, to see whether he could be 
of some service to me, and he finally drew a petition "ad- 
dressed to the United States Senate, asking for my confirma- 
tion. Upon his return to Albany the Democratic Senators, 
I think, unanimously indorsed it. A separate petition signed 
by Republican friends in the Legislature was also prepared 
and forw^arded. The Democratic petition was sent to Mr. 
Kernan by the Hon. Waldo Hutchins, with the request that 
he should present it to the Senate, He did so, stating that 
while he did not recognize the right to be dictated to, that 
these gentlemen were representatives of his party in New 



EXECUTIVE MANSION 

WASHINGTON. 




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3^ V 

1^ 



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Surveyor and Collector, Port of New York 1 1 5 

York Legislature, etc. The Republican petition was for- 
warded to Hon. William A. Wheeler, Vice-President, to be 
used at his discretion. He did not use it. 

When the Democratic petition was presented it gave an 
excuse for Democrats who were not especial followers of the 
Tilden faction to support my nomination against Mr. Conk- 
ling and Mr. Blaine, whom they did not very well like, and 
possibly regarded President Hayes as the weaker element of 
the party. 

Fernando Wood, a Member of Congress from New 
York, invited a number of southern Senators to a dinner and 
they decided to favor my confirmation. John Kelly of New 
York, who was Mayor of New York, also took some in- 
terest in the matter, and a number of Republican Senators 
who had stood by Senator Conkling in the rejection of Roose- 
velt and Prince decided also to favor my nomination, notably 
Senator Morrell of Vermont, Senator Sanders of Nebraska, 
and some others. I was confirmed by nine majority, receiv- 
ing twenty Democratic votes and thirteen Republican. 

Upon the occasion of the confirmation of my nomination 
as Collector, I received the following letter from President 
Hayes : 

EXECUTIVE MANSION. 

Washington, February 4, 1879. 

My dear General. — I congratulate you on your confirmation. It 
is a great gratification to me, very honorable to you, and will prove, 
I believe, of signal service to the Country. My desire is that the 
office be conducted on strictly business principles, and according to 
the rules for the Civil Service which were recommended by the Civil 
Service Commission in the Administration of Gen. Grant. I want 
you to be perfectly independent of mere influence from any quarter. 
Neither my recommendation, nor that of Secretary Sherman or of 
any Member of Congress, or other influential person must be specially 
regarded. Let appointments and removals be made on business 



1 1 6 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

principles and according to rules. There must, I assume, be a few 
confidential places filled by those you personally know to be trust- 
worthy, but restrict the area of patronage to the narrowest limits. 
Let no man be put out merely because he is a friend to Mr. Arthur, 
and no man put in merely because he is our friend. The good of 
the service should be the sole end in view. The best means yet 
presented, it seems to me, are the rules recommended by the Civil 
Service Commission. I shall issue no new orders on the subject at 
present. I am glad you approve of the message and I wish you to 
see that all that is expressed or implied in it is truthfully carried out. 
Again congratulating you, and assuring you of my entire con- 
fidence, I remain. Sincerely, 

R. B. HAYES. 
Gen. E. A. Merritt. 

Governor Fenton, who was in Rome at the time of my 
confirmation, wrote me as follows: 

HOTEL BRISTOL, 

Rome, February 7, '79. 

My dear General. — A cable despatch in the London Times of the 
4th says " The Custom Officers, N. Y., were confirmed by the 
Senate, 3rd. inst., notwithstanding the opposition of Senator Conk- 
ling." I do not lose a moment from my pen in congratulating you 
upon this conspicuous indorsement. Indeed, the posts are so im- 
portant and the opposition so marked and bitter, it was hardly less 
than a peril to the administration to be defeated and hardly less than 
a triumph to you to be sustained. I can well say this, as I feel, 
in view of the merits of individuals, but even more hearty, if possible, 
are my rejoicings on behalf of the public interests. Please make 
known to Gen'l Graham and Col. Burt my personal good feeling 
over this result and my confidence that it will have the general ap- 
proval which invariably follows an intelligent discharge of duty. 

And now, my dear Gen'l, allow me to add this word. You 
know in feeling I am not proscriptive. I have not been in practice, 
nevertheless I have always held that the personnel of the public service 



I 








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Surveyor and Collector, Port of New York 1 1 7 

should cordially reflect the spirit and purposes of those who are at 
the head and who are responsible for its honor and success. 

I have written hurriedly for the closing mail and for your eye 
only. Very sincerely yours, 

R. E. FENTON. 

P. S. — Will be glad to hear from you. 

Address care of Drexel Harges & Co., Bankers, 
Paris, France. 

President Hayes was so committed to Civil Service as 
applicable to the chief departments of the Government that 
he ins.'jted that we should undertake to formulate rules for 
the Custom House. We did so and received the approval 
of th«* Civil Service Commission, of which George William 
Curtis was Chairman. Our rules were practically the founda- 
tion of the existing Civil Service. It was true that previous 
to my administration some slight attempt had been made at 
betterment but it was only tentative and partial. In this work 
Colonel Burt was very active and advice was sought from Mr. 
George William Curtis, D, B. Eaton and Rev. Dr. McCosh 
of Princeton University. The establishment of this service 
precluded the idea of making appointments simply for political 
reasons and no attempt was made during my administration 
to build up a local political machine in the city of New York, 
and excepting the especially confidential positions in the 
Custom House, no removals were made except for cause. 

Upon my appointment as Collector, it was necessary for 
me to secure bondsmen who would justify in the amount of 
$400,000. Hon. S. B. Chittenden of Brooklyn, Marshall 
O. Roberts of New York, William Walter Phelps and Hugh 
Allen each justified in the sum of $100,000. The latter 
came to me voluntarily and tendered his services, as he said 
in recognition of a small service that I had rendered him some 
years before. He was a young man connected with the 



] 18 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

transportation business on the canals when I was in the As- 
sembly. During that time he was severely attacked (and I 
thought unjustly) by a Member of Assembly by the name of 
Miliken. Allen assaulted Miliken in the Assembly Chamber 
and was arraigned at the bar for contempt and punished. I 
had witnessed the affair and pleaded for a mild sentence. 
After a while Mr. Allen died and the other three bondsmen 
assumed the responsibility. Soon after Marshall O. Roberts 
died and then Mr. Chittenden said to Mr. Phelps, " Perhaps 
the Government will accept us, we won't trouble him to get 
another bondsman," and I did not have to procure another 
one. Notwithstanding the factional differences that were 
sharp and active when the campaign was on, my friendly re- 
lations with Arthur and Cornell continued. Mr. Conkling ex- 
pressed strong regret that I permitted the use of my name for 
Collector against his friend Arthur, as he had favored my con- 
firmation for Surveyor. I was not surprised at that and I 
have no doubt that he was perhaps justified, but I could not, 
of course, explain to him or his friends my embarrassment or 
the secrets of the administration. 

General Arthur was nominated in 1880 for Vice-Presi- 
dent on the ticket with General Garfield for President. I 
had several conferences with him during the campaign and 
he continued to be Chairman of the State Central Com- 
mittee. I have no doubt that the Customs Service was as 
efficient in the campaign as it ever had been before. Any 
inquiries made to me with regard to the campaign I would 
send to the Committee, and no complaint was ever made to 
me for failure to respond to reasonable demands. Hon. 
Thomas C. Piatt was Chairman of the Executive Committee. 

Upon the retirement of President Hayes from office, I 
addressed the following letters to himself and Mrs. Hayes: 



Surveyor and Collector, Port of New York 1 1 9 

CUSTOM HOUSE, NEW YORK, 

Collector's Office, 

March 4. 1881. 
1 o'clock A. M. 
Dear Mr. President. — I take this occasion to most earnestly thank 
you for the consideration and support you have unvaryingly given 
me since I entered upon the discharge of the duties of Collector of 
this Port. While those duties have been onerous and at times burd- 
ensome I have been sustained by the knowledge that yourself and the 
Secretary of the Treasury had full confidence in my purpose to so 
administer the office as to reflect credit upon your administration. If 
I have in any degree failed to accomplish in the w^ay of reform all 
that you thought possible and desirable, it has not been from want 
of an honest purpose but rather from inability to overcome obstacles 
in my pathway. I shall ever remember your kindnesses and trust 
that in your retirement from the great office which you have filled so 
acceptably to the Nation you will receive the fullest meed of praise 
which so justly you deserve. 

Very Sincerely Yours, 

E. A. MERRITT. 

Hon. R. B. Hayes, 

President of the United States, 

Washington, D. C. 



20 East 33rd St., 
New York, March 4, 1881. 
Dear Mrs. Hayes. — I take the occasion of your retirement from 
the " White House " over which you have presided with such grace 
and dignity, in view of all the people and to their acceptance, to 
thank you for courtesies extended. You have wielded an influence 
which will last as long as our government shall endure. Your fidelity 
to what Republican simplicity required and your firm adherence to 
the cause of temperance with which your name must ever be promi- 
nently identified will embalm your memory as one who having a 
great opportunity wisely and grandly improved it for the good of 
humanity. 



120 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

Mrs. Merritt joins me in wishing you, your noble husband, and 
children, long and happy lives. 

Most Sincerely yours, 

E. A. MERRITT. 
Mrs. R. B. Hayes, 

Fremont, Ohio. 



The former President replied to my letter as follows: 

Fremont, Ohio. 

II March, 1881. 
My dear General. — Your kind letter of the 4th finds me here. 
I have only time to thank you for what you have done — for all 
you have done, which is very great, for me and my administration, 
and to assure you of my sense of obligation, and my very warm per- 
sonal friendship. 
With best wishes. 

Sincerely, 

R. B. HAYES, 
Gen. E. A. Merritt, 

P. S. We are all very, very happy. H. 



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CHAPTER XI 

CONSUL-GENERAL TO LONDON 



CHAPTER XI 
Consul-General to London 

I continued to hold the position as Collector until the 
spring of 1 88 1 , when President Garfield nominated William 
H. Robertson, who was a member of the State Senate, for 
my position, and nominated me to be Consul-General at 
London, England. This movement was a great surprise to 
all parties generally, as well as to myself. One day a Mr. 
Douglas, Special Agent of the Treasury Department, a rela- 
tive of Secretary Windom's, called upon me with a message 
from the Secretary to furnish certain information that he 
might require and that he would soon visit New York and 
see me. 

I said, " Possibly they contemplate a change." 

" No," he said, " it is not even thought of, and I had a 
talk with the Secretary just before I left Washington and 
you will not be disturbed. In fact the Secretary greatly re- 
lies upon you," or words to that effect. 

While I was out at lunch that same day I received a mes- 
sage from the Associated Press saying that my successor had 
been nominated and that I had been named Consul-General 
to London. 

Mr. Robertson represented what was known as the Blaine 
element in New York, which at the National Convention 
led a bolt from the unit rule which had been adopted by the 
State Convention. Although a member of that convention, 
he made no protest against it. Upon arrival at the National 
Convention the matter of State instructions was brought up 
and the question whether delegates representing congressional 
districts could vote independently or be controlled by a ma- 

[123] 



124 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

jority of the State delegates and it was decided in favor of 
the former. He, with a number of others, joined with those 
who were in favor of individual voting and, of course, gave 
very great offense to Mr. Conkling and his friends as they 
voted for Mr. Blaine as against General Grant for third term. 
That night I proceeded to Washington to confer with the 
President and expressed some surprise at the hasty action and 
told him that had an intimation reached me that my holding 
the position was an embarrassment he could have had my 
resignation at any time. He went on to explain the situation 
to me, referring to several recent appointments he had made 
of Mr. Conkling's friends in New York to please Mr. Conk- 
ling and that the other side had felt that they were not fairly 
considered, and in order to balance the matter he felt con- 
strained to do it even without consulting me, and that he had 
nominated me for a very important place and had great hope 
of what I might do to improve the Consular Service, and espe- 
cially to soften it down. He thought that Mr. Conkling's 
friends had no reason to complain of this action because in 
nominating Mr. Robertson he did not remove a political 
friend of Mr. Conkling's. He had also made certain changes 
in the foreign service which gave offense to Mr. Conkling 
and General Grant's friends. Gen. Adam Badeau was 
Consul-General at London and he was nominated for Minis- 
ter to Denmark and Nicholas Fish was removed from the 
position which he held and there was a sort of general recon- 
struction. Mr. Sherman, who had been elected to the 
Senate, was very much opposed to this movement and was 
quite angry that this had been done without consulting him. 
In my first appointment against General Arthur he had been 
very bitterly assailed in consequence of it and he did not 
want a second fight, so to speak, and insisted that I ought 
to resist the change on the ground of a violation of the Civil 




JAMES A. GARFIELD 



Consul-General to London 125 

Service, and besides it was in the middle of my term. I had 
so well satisfied the business interests of New York that my 
appointment had been justified. 

I said to Mr. Sherman that it was not for me to know what 
their plans were, but that if there was an attack on my official 
record, I should resist. There had been some charges made 
by my factional enemies, in fact inquiries had been made in 
the Senate as to whether I had not violated some of the Civil 
Service rules with regard to appointments. I told the Presi- 
dent that if anything of that kind was involved in this action, 
and I was to receive a blow, I would take it in the face, and 
he assured me that there was nothing of the kind and that 
he had every confidence in my ability and that my services 
had been entirely satisfactory as Collector. Only a very few 
days before he had an inter^aew with Mr. Conkling, and had 
informed him of his purpose to make the appointment of his 
friends in New York and Mr. Conkling wanted to know 
when he was going to change the Custom House officials, 
and he said that he hadn't any purpose to act upon them. 
Mr. Conkling claimed afterward that he promised him he 
wouldn't do it without consulting him and there was a ques- 
tion of veracity raised between them. 

Shortly after Mr. Robertson's nomination, I received the 
following letter from Senator Sherman : 

UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER. 

Washington, March 31, 1881. 
My dear Sir. — If Senator Conkling should place his opposition 
to the confirmation of Robertson on the ground that it would operate 
to the removal of a competent Collector without cause and during his 
term of office it would embarrass me. It was my purpose and I was 
fully prepared to contend that you were appointed for good reasons 
and that you have by your official record justified your appointment. 
Your sudden removal without cause by a President supposed to be 



126 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 



friendly leaves you in a bad position and if acquiesced in by me 
leaves me as deserting you vs^hen your removal comes from the Presi- 
dent and supporting you w^hen it is urged by Senator Conkling. 
What I w^ish to know from you definitely is whether you assent to 
the proposed changes including your appointment as Consul to Lon- 
don. I wish your answer so I may use it if occasion demands. 
Very truly yours. 

Gen. E. A. Merritt. JOHN SHERMAN. 

Collector. 



I replied to the Senator's letter as follows: 
CUSTOM HOUSE. NEW YORK. 

Collector's Office. 

April 4th. 1881. 

Dear Senator. — Yours of the 3 1st ult. is received. As you know 
I did not seek my present position and accepted it with great reluc- 
tance and upon the solicitation of President Hayes. For many rea- 
sons I would have been greatly gratified had the new administration 
deemed it wise to allow me to complete the term of my commission. 
But as in the past. I now concede the right of the President to select 
the person whom he desires to administer so important a position as 
that of Collector of the Port of New York, which by the concen- 
tration of business here has become national in its scope. I cannot 
therefore antagonize the purposes of the President in the proposed 
changes. 

On grounds personal to myself I could not demur to his action 
since both the President and the Secretaiy of the Treasury have 
expressed satisfaction with the discharge of m.y present duties, so far 
as known to them, and my nomination to an important business posi- 
tion abroad is a further manifestation of the President's confidence 
in me. I hope therefore that you will be relieved from any embarrass- 
ment and will feel at liberty to favor the confirmation of the present 
nomination for the Collectorship without reference to my personal 
relations with it. 

Though my nomination to the position of Consul General at Lon- 
don was entirely unexpected I shall in case of confirmation accept the 
position since its duties are closely related to those which I have 




JOHN SHERMAN 



Consul-General to London 127 

officially performed for several years here and I feel that I could 
creditably discharge them. 

I highly appreciate your friendship and the confidence expressed 
in your letter and I hope that opportunities may be granted to make 
some return for your kind consideration. 

Sincerely yours, 

E. A. MERRITT. 



Thereafter I received this reply to my letter of April 4th: 

SENATE LIBRARY COMMITTEE. 

II I- A R/t • Washington, April 5, 81. 

Hon. E. A. Memtt, & ' f 

New York. 
My dear Sir. — Your letter of the 4th is received. It will relieve 
me from the embarrassment under which I was placed, and I shall 
therefore support the nomination of Robertson on the ground that it 
is made with your consent, and does not imply any reproach or dis- 
credit to you. And, secondly, because I believe from the informa- 
tion I have, that he is an able and honest man who will conduct 
your great office for the best interest of the public. 
Very truly yours, 

JOHN SHERMAN. 



Senator George F. Edmunds, a good friend of mine in the 
United States Senate, wrote me this letter : 

U. S. SENATE CHAMBER, 

Washington, 11 April, 1881. 
Dear Sir. — With a view to acting understandingly in the matter 
of the New York Collectorship, I Avill thank you to inform me whether 
the proposed transfer of yourself to England and the appointment of 
another person in your place as Collector is with your consent. An 
early answer will oblige. Yours truly, 

^ r- A ^/l GEO. F. EDMUNDS. 

Gen. E. A. Memtt, 

Custom House, 

New York City. 

9 



128 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

The following is my reply to Senator Edmund's letter: 

CUSTOM HOUSE. NEW YORK. 

Collector's Office. 

April 18. 1881. 
Dear Senator. — Your letter was duly received. While I should 
have been greatly gratified had the new administration deemed it wise 
to allow me to remain in my present position during the term of my 
commission, still the changes having been proposed to the Senate I 
assent to them. It would not be becoming to me, on personal 
grounds, to object to the course proposed, as I do now, as in the past, 
concede to the President the right to select the person whom he de- 
sires to administer this office, which in a large measure has become 
national in importance. 

If confirmed as Consul-General to London I shall gladly accept the 
position. Thanking you for the consideration shown by writing me 
on the subject, 

I am. Sincerely Yours, 

E. A. MERRITT. 

Hon. Geo. F. Edmunds. 
U. S. Senate. 

Washington, D. C. 

General Garfield, in making up his cabinet, intended to 
give New York a proper representation, and tendered the 
post of Secretary of the Navy to Hon. Levi P. Morton who. 
under the influence of Mr. Conkling, declined it on the 
ground that he ought to be Secretary of the Treasury, and 
that New York was entitled to the treasuryship, and his in- 
fluence was strong enough to induce him to decline the ap- 
pointment. He was afterward appointed Minister to France 
and accepted it, which, of course, was not pleasing to Mr. 
Conkling. Thomas L. James of New York, who had been 
Postmaster in New York, was finally nominated as Post- 
master-General as a friend of Mr. Conkling's without his 
being consulted, and the nomination of Mr. Robertson for 



Consul-General to London 129 

Collector followed only a very few days after, and of course 
was a great surprise to Senator Conkling and Senator Piatt, 
and the feeling became very bitter. 

When Senator Piatt arrived in New York he sent for me 
to learn whether I was a party to this arrangement in any 
way, and said that if I would resist the proposed change they 
would stand by me and make a fight for me in the Senate. 
I told him I would be willing to assent to any arrangement 
that could be made with the President,, through the White 
House, that I had no special backing outside, that this 
situation was entirely a surprise to me and that I would prefer 
to hold my position as Collector until my term expired rather 
than to accept any position which the President had in his 
gift, and I stated to him that before these changes had oc- 
curred, I had suggested to Mr. Blaine that it was probable 
that he would want to recognize Mr. Robertson, as he 
was Robertson's friend, and suggested that he might be 
made District Attorney of the southern district of New 
York, which, as I understood it, was a more lucrative 
position than the collectorship ; that I understood Gen- 
eral Woodford, whose term as District Attorney would 
expire, would be glad to receive a judgeship. I said further, 
that I knew that the percentage of fees of moities of fines, 
forfeitures and penalties were still received by the District 
Attorney, although the rule as to moities had been cut off 
from Customs officials. He told me that he would be very 
glad to do that and wanted to know whether I thought 
Robertson would accept it. I had had a previous confer- 
ence with Robertson and he had said, " Let them offer it 
to me and see," but Mr. Garfield nominated General Wood- 
ford for reappointment without consulting Mr. Blaine. Hon. 
Wayne McVeagh, Attorney-General in the Cabinet, and 
Mr. James, Postmaster-General, endeavored to compose this 



130 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

difficulty between Mr. Conkling and the President, and an 
interview was arranged at which they were to be present. 
The time was fixed for the interview and Mr. McVeagh and 
Mr. James called upon Mr. Conkling to go with him to the 
White House. While there, Mr. Conkling received a tele- 
gram from Governor Cornell advising him to consent to the 
confirmation of Mr. Robertson. Mr. Conkling was offended 
and seemed to think that his friends were deserting him and he 
refused to go to the White House or have anything more to 
do with President Garfield. 

This part of the statement was made to me by Mr. James, 
himself, and he was forced into the position of either stand- 
ing by the President, who had appointed him Postmaster- 
General, or resign his position and stand by Mr. Conkling, 
and he accepted the former alternative, and remained as 
Postmaster-General. When it was found that this difficulty 
could not be harmonized. Senator Piatt, who had been 
elected Senator by what were called the " Half-Breeds " in 
the Legislature against Mr. Conkling's candidate. Senator 
Crowley, sought their support and gave assurances that they 
should be well treated so far as his action was concerned in 
the Senate, in case they were nominated for Federal positions, 
making only one exception, and that was, if Senator Robert- 
son was nominated for a Cabinet position he v/ould feel con- 
strained to oppose him, or he would have to differ with Mr. 
Conkling, which he did not want to do. Mr. Robertson's 
attitude in the National Convention had so enribittered Mr. 
Conkling that he insisted upon their rejecting him for this 
position. It was at the proposed interview with the President 
that it was understood that the names the President had sent 
in of Mr. Conkling's friends should be withdrawn and he 
would make a recast of the appointments and nominate Mr. 
Robertson for District Attorney. Mr. Conkling was con- 



Consul-General to London 131 

suited about them and he suggested that if anything was done 
for Robertson he should be given some position out of the 
country and that if he was nominated he would go into the 
cloak room and hold his nose while he was being confirmed. 
The situation became so unpleasant to Mr. Piatt that he de- 
cided to resign his Senatorship rather than have a controversy 
with the administration for the ensuing period of four years, 
and so informed Mr. Conkling. 

Mr. Conkling said, " Well, if you are going to resign I 
shall." 

The next day, I believe, they forwarded their resignations 
to Governor Cornell. The break, therefore, between them 
and the President was complete and of course caused great 
excitement and surprise. The opponents of Mr. Conkling 
learning of that fact, secured an adjournment as soon as 
the State Senate met, the effect of which was to delay the 
action of the Legislature in electing successors for two weeks. 
I have referred to this action of their resignation especially 
because it was understood that Mr. Conkling was the prime 
mover of the purpose to resign, whereas, as I understood it, 
the proposition was made by Senator Piatt, and in that case 
Mr. Conkling was the " Me too." 

The friends of Mr. Conkling in New York were very 
much disappointed, and as the majority, as they supposed, 
of the Republicans of the Legislature were his friends and 
had elected Mr. Piatt to the Senate, they could be re-elected 
and urged them to stand as candidates, and they finally did 
so, and the Republicans failed to hold a caucus. Then the 
contest took place in the Legislature. The opposing candi- 
dates were Hon. Chauncey M. Depew and Hon. William 
A. Wheeler. 

Mr. Conkling claimed that he had not the slightest inten- 
tion of being a candidate for re-election when he resigned, 



132 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

but when he visited New York he was surrounded by so 
many of his friends who were practically charging him with 
abandoning them, that he relinquished the idea of not being 
a candidate. The result is well known, that after a long 
controveisy the names of Depew and Wheeler were with- 
drawn and enough of the Conkling side, who were weary of 
the contest, joined in electing Elbridge G. Lapham and 
Warner Miller to the Senate. 

Before this controversy ended General Garfield was 
assassinated. The nominations as they had been put in were 
confirmed but by reason of Mr. Robertson's position in the 
Senate I was asked to remain in the Collector's office until 
he could be relieved to assume the duties of his office, which 
was several weeks. While this controversy lasted and Mr. 
Robertson's nomination was under consideration, there was 
an active movement among the merchants and business men 
of New York, without my concurrence, consent or knowl- 
edge, to prevent my removal. There were a great many 
complimentary things said and favorable reports made con- 
cerning me, and the following petition was forwarded to 
the Senate: 

To the Honorable James A. Garfield, President of the United States: 
The undersigned, merchants and others, identified with the com- 
mercial interests of the City of New York, respectfully represent that 
the public welfare demands that the duties pertaining to the high and 
responsible position of Collector of the Port of New York should be 
discharged in a manner that, while securing the econoifiical and faith- 
ful collection of the revenues will also protect the public from the 
nervous embarrassments, delays and losses that have frequently been 
caused by the appointment, for purely political reasons, of men unac- 
quainted with the duties of the office. 

Your petitioners would therefore respectfully urge the retention in 
said position for the full term for which he was appointed of General 
E. A. Merritt, whose close attention to the business of the office has 



Consul-General to London 133 

made him thoroughly familiar therewith and has enabled him to dis- 
charge its duties with fidelity to the government and satisfaction to the 
commercial public. 

This petition was signed by about two thousand mer- 
chants, bankers and other representative citizens of New York 
city. Among the bankers signing, appeared the following 
names : 

Benj. B. Sherman Pres. Merchants National Bank 

J. D. Vermilye Merchants National Bank 

W. R. Jenks Bank of America 

F. D. Tappan Gallatin National Bank 

N. F. Palmer Leather National Bank 

John Jay Cisco Banker 

Jno. Phelps Phelps, Stokes, Co. 

Chas. M. Frey Bank of New York 

Wm. Dowd Bank of North America 

J. D. Fisk Marine National Bank 

Ambrose Swan Vice-Pres. Marine National Bank. 

Hatch & Foote Bankers. 

When it came to my knowledge that this petition and 
others had been sent to Washington, I wrote President Gar- 
field this letter: 

CUSTOM HOUSE. NEW YORK. 

Collector's Office. 

April 7th. 1881. 

Dear Mr. President. — I see by the papers that the Board of 
Trade and Transportation have forwarded petitions in favor of my 
retention in office. I wish to say to you that this movement was 
started without my knowledge or assent, and so far as I can learn, 
without the knowledge or encouragement of any personal or political 
friends of my own. and I trust that it may not in any way embarrass 
you. I suppose there may be two or three purposes involved in 
the matter which do not in any way relate to myself personally or 
to the political considerations involved in the change. 

In response to a letter from Mr. Sherman. T wrote him most 



134 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

freely and fully, relieving him from any supposed embarrassment 
which he may have felt. 

In view of the publicity now given to the matter, I deemed it 
best to write you. Very respectfully, 

E. A. MERRITT. 
Hon. James A. Garfield, Collector. 

President, 
Executive Mansion, 

Washington, D. C. 



The following reply was received from President Garfield : 
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 

Washington, 

April n, 1881. 
Dear General. — Yours of the 7th inst. came duly to hand, and 
contents are noted. 

I am gratified at the spirit of your letter. I assure you that your 
nomination to the Consulate at London was intended as a compli- 
ment, and the change from the Custom House to that office im- 
plies no reflection whatever, upon the efficiency of your service as Col- 
lector. My chief object was to have the Collectorship settled for 
four years rather than to have the vacancy occur at the middle of my 
term. 

With thanks for your letter, I am. 

Very truly yours, 
Gen'l E. A. Merritt, J. A. GARFIELD. 

Collector of Customs, 

New York City. 



I also wrote Secretary Windom as follows: 
CUSTOM HOUSE, NEW YORK. 

Collector's Office, 

April 7th, 1881. 
My dear Sir. — In response to my letter to Mr. Sherman he 
stated that he felt entirely relieved and would favor the confirmation 
of Robertson. 



EXECUTIVE MANSION 

WASHINGTON. 



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Consul-General to London 135 

In this connection I wish now to state, also, that this movement 
of the business men of New York has been carried on, until yester- 
day, without my knowledge, and, so far as I can learn, without any 
encouragement or assistance of personal or political friends of my 
own. It is proper that I should say this much, to the end that there 
may be no misapprehension as to the position I occupy in regard to 
the matter. Very respectfully yours, 

E. A. MERRITT, 
Hon. William Windom, Collector. 

Secretary of the Treasury, 

Washington, D. C. 



The following letter was written to Claflin & Company 
by direction of President Garfield: 

EXECUTIVE MANSION. 

Washington, 

April n, 1881. 
Gentlemen. — In the many duties crowding upon him, the Presi- 
dent finds it impossible to respond personally to your favor of the 
8th instant, but he directs me to acknowledge its receipt and to 
thank you for the information its contains. 

He also wishes me to say that the change in the office of Col- 
lector implies no criticism upon the efficiency of General Mierritt, but 
was promoted by a desire to have the Collectorship settled for four 
years rather than to have the vacancy occur in the middle of his 
term. Very respectfully. 

Your obd't svt., 

J. Stanley Brown, 
Messrs: Private Secretary. 

H. B. Claflin & Co., 

New York City. 

Various comments were made by public press and indi- 
viduals as to the reason for the unexpected course taken by 
General Garfield at that time. I have this version of it from 



136 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

Mr. Thomas Nichols, who was private secretary to General 
Garfield during his campaign, and was also made a Com- 
missioner of Indian Affairs and for a time remained with the 
President at the White House. He said that the night be- 
fore the nomination of Mr. Robertson was sent to the Senate, 
Mr. Blaine, who was Secretary of State, called upon the 
President, who was at his dinner, and the President asked 
him to call about ten o'clock. Mr. Blaine did so and assured 
the President that the nominations he had already made in 
New York were all Mr. Conkling's friends, and that his 
friends were being ignored and very serious complaints had 
reached him and that something must be done to satisfy these 
gentlemen or he could not be of use to the administration, 
or words to that effect. He was very much in earnest and 
greatly disturbed about the situation. 

They went over the list of appointments to see what could 
be done and the most important position in New York at 
that time with which the most patronage was connected was 
the Custom House, and he insisted upon the appointment of 
Judge Robertson and they made up the program that night 
by which I was to be transferred to London and General 
Badeau, a particular friend of General Grant's, as Minister 
to Denmark. That the nominations were sent in the next 
day and that although this appointment properly belonged to 
the Treasury Department, Mr. Windom was not consulted 
with regard to it and was greatly surprised at the nomina- 
tion. This information I had directly from Mr. Windom and 
he expressed very great regret and disappointment at the 
course which was pursued at that time. It was reported 
against the President also, that he had ignored the only re- 
quest that General Grant had made of him for an appoint- 
ment, and that was the retention of General Badeau as 
Consul-General at London. That was not correct at that 



Consul-General to London 137 

time, as I met General Badeau in the White House the morn- 
ing that I visited the President after my nomination, and the 
General then told me that he regretted very much that he haa 
not presented a letter from General Grant; that he had been 
in Washington for some little time and was w^aiting for a 
favorable opportunity, but that he had not yet presented it, 
so that the removal of General Badeau was made before 
General Grant's request was received. While the contro- 
versy in regard to the re-election of Mr. Conkling was pend- 
ing, charges were made, of course, that the administration 
was interfering, and they were very sensitive about it and their 
feeling became so marked that leading men did not dare visit 
the President. The friends of Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Depew 
of course were very anxious to secure the co-operation of the 
President and I was so situated that I could visit him without 
exciting any suspicion and so I was an intermediary. The 
President had a cottage at Elberon and on the Wednesday 
before he was shot I visited him at his cottage to post him 
with regard to the situation at Albany and see whether he 
could or would feel justified in giving any assurance as to what 
would be done in case of the success of the anti-Conkling 
candidates. He assured me that he could not in any way 
interfere in the matter, that he had become convinced that 
he had made a great mistake in making these changes at that 
time, that he had not anticipated any such controversy as 
had arisen and, of course, he thought the Conkling people 
were not justified in their hostility on account of what he had 
done. He denied to me that he had made any such state- 
ment to Mr. Conkling as had been represented in regard to 
promising not to act without consulting him. He assured 
me of warm support in my new position and that he was 
satisfied there should be some radical reforms in the Consular 
Service and that he expected to get great assistance through 
me as Consul-General at London. 



138 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

One rather amusing incident occurred while I was in 
Washington on a visit to President Garfield. I was invited 
to lunch with his family. His mother, who had become quite 
an interested listener to our talk, suddenly, without any pre- 
liminary remark said : " James, why did you remove this 
man from office?" He was temporarily embarrassed but 
finally explained it as well as he could, which was very amus- 
ing to me. 

The following letters passed between Secretary Windom 
and myself upon the closing of my accounts as Collector: 

OFFICE OF COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, 

New York, August 29, 188L 
The Hon. William Windom, Secretary of the Treasury: 

Sir. — I have the honor to inform you that I have transmitted 
to the department all statements of the various accounts which ap- 
pertain to the receipts and disbursements of the Collector of the 
Port of New York, and as disbursing agent up to and including the 
3 1st day of July last, at which date I ceased to be Collector; and 
to report that I have turned over to the Assistant Treasurer all bal- 
ances due to the United States upon said accounts. * * * 
I also respectfully state that during the time I had charge of the 
office, viz., from July 20, 1878, to and including July 31, 1881, 
I received the sum of $397,385,772.78 as follows: 

For duty from Customs $372,264,732.76 

For tonnage, hospital dues, &c., 4,125,111.97 

And also for purposes of disbursement $20,995,929.05, every 
dollar of which has been paid out for the various accounts for which 
it was received, and for which vouchers are on file in the depart- 
ment. The total expenses in all the departments in connection with 
the collection of Customs in this district during my term of service 
were $7,354,460.92. 

I have to request that you will cause as early an adjustment of 
my accounts as may be practicable. I wish again to thank you for 
the consideration you have shown me since my official relations began. 



(f-fc^^^^ c^A- f^^^ ^^-y ^v?^^ --^ 






Consul-General to London 139 

and to assure you of my continued interest in the successful adminis- 
tration of your department. 

I am. Very Respectfully Yours, 

E. A. MERRITT, 
Late Collector of Customs. 



TREASURY DEPARTMENT. 

August 31, 1881. 
Gen. E. A. Merritt, New York: 

My dear Sir. — I have your favor of the 29th inst., informing 
me that you have transmitted to the department all statements of 
the various accounts which appertain to the receipts and disburse- 
ments of the Collector of the Port of New York during your term 
of service, and requesting as early an adjustment of your accounts 
as may be practicable. 

In reply I have to say that your request shall receive as early 
attention as the business of the department will permit. 

I cannot close the very agreeable official relations which have 
existed between us without assuring you, not only of my sincere 
personal regard, but also my high appreciation of the faithfulness 
and efficiency with which you have always discharged the difficult 
and important duties of your office. 

Hoping you may enjoy the new position to which you have been 
assigned, and feeling assured that its duties will be ably and effi- 
ciently performed, I remain. 

Very Respectfully Yours, 

WILLIAM WINDOM, 

Secretary. 



After making up my final report as Collector, I forwarded 
a copy to former President Hayes, who had appointed me to 
the office, and received from him the following acknowledg- 
ment: 

Fremont, O., August 2, 1881. 

My dear General. — I thank you for your note and the newspaper 
cutting of your report. It is a noble showing — very creditable to 



140 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

you — very gratifying to me, and a condition of things on which 
while I congratulate you, I feel that I have a personal interest in it al- 
most equal to yours. The Country has especial reason to rejoice. It is 
a complete answer to the plausible objections which ingenious people 
present to that Reform of the Civil Service which is so essential to 
the ultimate success of our Republican Experiment. 

Of course you know my views as to your being relieved. The 
downfall of the machine is a great gain. Let it be seen to that no 
new machine is set up on the ruins of the old one. 

In fine you have done what I desired — all that I desired — 
more than I had a right to expect, and I thank you with all my 
heart. Sincerely, 

R. B. HAYES. 
Hon. E. A. Merritt. 

Before leaving for London I visited Washington for the 
purpose of receiving final instructions. President Garfield 
v^ho had been shot by Guiteau w^as very low and his life 
was despaired of. James G. Blaine was Secretary of State, 
and at his request I remained some time and spent a day at 
his house. He talked very freely and anxiously about the 
President's condition and had less confidence of the Presi- 
dent's recovery than the encouraging bulletins indicated. In 
considering the political consideration in case the President 
should not survive his wound, Mr. Blaine thought that Gen- 
eral Arthur would probably not change the Cabinet. To this 
suggestion I expressed the decided opinion that his relations 
to Senator Conkling were such that the latter would insist on 
a change. 

It so happened that I did not personally know Mr. Conk- 
ling very well until the factional divisions had become quite 
pronounced. So far as I had any relations with him, they 
were always personally pleasant. He sometimes would be 
quite sarcastic about my friends in my presence but never 
appeared to have any personal feeling toward me, although 
I was with the other faction of the party. 



Consul-General to London 141 

At the State Convention in Syracuse when contesting 
delegates were sent up from New York city, Mr, Greeley 
was Chairman of the regular organization. At that time Mr. 
Conkling was the leader of the opposition. The Committee 
on Contesting Seats reported in favor of giving each delega- 
tion half a vote, and Mr. Conkling took position against it, 
and the result was that the contesting delegation was seated 
and Mr. Greeley and the delegates supporting him retired 
from the convention. With them went delegates from diff- 
erent parts of the State, among others a portion of the dele- 
gation from St. Lawrence county. I was in as a delegate 
from Franklin county. 

Mr. Conkling, in his speech to show his purpose to be 
liberal with those who did not agree with him, turned toward 
me in the convention, as I happened to be standing, and said 
that he hoped to have the pleasure of seconding the nomina- 
tion of the gentleman whom he had in his eye. I shook my 
head and he said, " It will not be thrown at the feet of un- 
willing St. Lawrence." 

I do not recall the exact majority which the Conkling ele- 
ment had in the convention. After an adjournment was 
taken a committee from that side, some of whom were per- 
sonally friendly to me, came and desired that I should accept 
the nomination for Comptroller on the ticket, saying that if 
I would consent to it, the name of Mr. Hopkins of Buffalo 
would not be urged. I declined to accede to the proposition, 
although I felt very confident that the ticket that year would 
be elected. I did not see how to separate myself from Mr. 
Greeley and Governor Fenton without their being parties to 
an arrangement of this kind. Mr. Hopkins was nominated 
and elected. 

J. Hilton Scribner, who was of our faction, was offered the 
position of candidate for Secretary of State. He at first was 



142 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

disposed to decline to accept the nomination unless some 
other of our faction should go on the ticket, and especially 
desired me to do so. A few of us surrounded him and urged 
him to accept the candidacy. He was nominated and it was 
then feared that the delegates from New York, under the 
leadership of Mr. Greeley would, perhaps, oppose the ticket, 
or at least would be luke-warm in its support. They had a 
real grievance and I thought then, and think now, that they 
were not well treated. An effort was then made to get Mr. 
Greeley and his friends to support the ticket, with a good 
many assurances outside that they would hereafter be better 
treated, and I was urged to see Mr. Greeley and labor with 
him and present the views of our friends in the country with 
reference to the ticket and urge him to preside at a meeting 
to be held in New York city. He was very reluctant at 
first to do so, but he finally consented and the Republican 
ticket was elected. 

Mr. Conkling was very peculiar in many ways and very 
strong in his feeling when thwarted in his purpose. Mr. 
Lamb, Editor of the Troy Times, in the absence of 
Mr. Francis, who was Minister to Greece, told me that Mr. 
Conkling scolded him very sharply for having suggested some 
policy on the part of the Republican party without consult- 
ing him, and said in substance that the newspaper press of the 
party had no right to criticise the representative men who 
were leaders of the party and holding official positions. 

While the matter of my confirmation to the position as 
Collector was pending, some of General Arthur's friends had 
learned that certain Senators who had heretofore supported 
Mr. Conkling in his controversy were disposed to break away 
and favor my confirmation. So at a conference it was de- 
cided to send Mr. Clinton Wheeler, who was Police Com- 
missioner of the city of New York, to inform Mr. Conkling 



Consul-General to London 143 

and to make some suggestions about the contest. He told me 
that he went with some trepidation, knowing the peculiari- 
ties of Mr. Conkling, and although he was a real friend of 
his, he did not know how he might be received. He called 
upon him and after general conversation stated that he came 
there representing his friends and expressed the fear that Mr. 
Conkling was going to be disappointed in some of the sup- 
port he anticipated, and I think gave some names. 

Mr. Conkling responded, " My friends sent you here to 
inform me as to the position of my friends in the Senate. You 
may tell my friends that when I need their advice I will send 
for it." 

Mr. Sanders, Senator from Nebraska, who had previously 
voted with Mr. Conkling in the rejection of Roosevelt, went 
to him and said : " I think this controversy ought not to be 
protracted, and I cannot stand with you in this contest and 
propose to vote for the confirmation of General Merritt." 

Mr. Conkling said, " I expect every one of my friends will 
stand by me." 

Mr. Sanders said, " Gen. Merritt's brother lives in my 
State and has been a good friend and for that and personal 
reasons also I have concluded to favor his confirmation." 

Of course, Mr. Conkling was very much offended and 
Senator Sanders afterward told me that Mr. Conkling would 
not see him for three months. 

Several other Senators occupied a similar position to Sena- 
tor Sanders and among them Mr. Morrill, of Vermont. I 
was in the Fifth Avenue Hotel a short time after and met 
Senator Morrill, who was just about departing for a trip to 
Europe, and finding that Mr. Conkling was in the hotel he 
decided to call upon him and pay his respects. He did so 
and when he came out of his room I noticed that he was 
very much affected and I thought that he was ill, and in- 
quired if such was the case. 
10 



144 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

" No," he said, " I am not ill, but I am feeling very badly. 
I have just called upon Mr. Conkling in a friendly way to 
pay my respects and he at once began to abuse me in the 
most savage vv^ay for having favored your nomination." 

He said, " Mr. Conkling, if I supposed you entertained 
such feelings I certainly should not have troubled you with 
my presence." 

After I was appointed Surveyor and was confirmed by 
the consent of Mr. Conkling, I was in Washington and 
wanted to call upon him and pay my respects. I learned 
that he had made a rule not to receive cards or calls while 
the Senate was in session. I went to the Capitol and sent 
my card in and asked him to indicate on it at what time and 
place it would be convenient for him to receive a call from 
me. He sent a messenger out and asked me to come into 
the Vice-President's room and he left his seat and came out 
and it was so unexpected to me that I was somewhat em- 
barrassed. I said to him that I did not desire to disturb him 
during the session. 

'* There is not much danger of your disturbing me, sir," 
he replied. We sat down and had a long conversation with 
regard to the political situation, especially in New York, 
and he gave me his opinion not only about his most important 
friends. General Arthur and Mr. Cornell, but those who diff- 
ered with him and especially George William Curtis. 

Upon another occasion, while at the Fifth Avenue Hotel 
in New York, I met Hon. Alonzo Taft, who had been At- 
torney-General in General Grant's Cabinet, the father of 
President Taft, and as we were talking in the office, Mr. 
Conkling came up and inquired of Mr. Taft if he had just 
come down from Ohio. He said he had been down to the 
Commencement at Yale College. 

Mr. Conkling then said, " Tell me, did Hayes make a 



Consul-General to London 145 

speech at the Commencement as had been reported in the 
newspapers?" 

Mr. Taft replied: "I think it has been pretty correctly 
reported in the New York Tribune." 

In a sneering way, Mr. Conkling referred to the Tribune 
and then said, " If Hayes made a speech as reported, and 
Solomon were here, he would revise one of his wise sayings, 
that ' there is nothing new under the sun.' " 

It appears that President Hayes, in making a speech at the 
commencement exercises, referred to the President of the 
University and complimented him, and said that upon certain 
questions of interest he had asked his advice. 

Another incident, as reported to me by Governor Fenton, 
was that when the subject of the confirmation of Thomas L. 
Murphy for Collector was pending Mr. Fenton made a vigor- 
ous speech in opposition and quoted the position which Mr. 
Murphy had occupied with regard to certain meetings and 
transactions in New York, as reported especially in the New 
York Times. Mr. Fenton stated that it could be found on 
the files in the Congressional Library. After a recess Mr. 
Conkling in his reply, while scoring Governor Fenton and his 
faction, charged that Mr. Fenton had misled the Senate and 
made statements that were false and that the references of 
Governor Fenton would be found to be false. Of course 
Mr. Fenton was very much astonished. After the matter 
was disposed of, Mr. Murphy was confirmed and Mr, 
Fenton went to the Congressional Librarian and procured a 
certificate that the files were mutilated during the recess and 
took that into the Senate to vindicate the statement he had 
already made. 

After his retirement from the Senate and entering upon his 
law practice in New York, Senator Conkling was called upon 
to represent the firm importing the apollinaris water, upon 



146 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

which subject there was a controversy as to whether the water 
was a natural spring or artificial water. Mr. Folger was 
Secretary of the Treasury in General Arthur's Cabinet and 
he said he could not personally go to the Treasury Depart- 
ment because Mr. Folger was a particular friend, but that 
he would look over any papers that might be presented. 
Col. George C. Tichenor was a special agent of the 
Treasury Department and had made a thorough investiga- 
tion of the subject in Germany and reported in favor of 
its being a natural mineral sprmg water. Mr. Conkling took 
his report and commended it as governing the case, and the 
decision of the Secretary of the Treasury was in accordance 
with this report. It was stated to me, I can't say upon what 
authority, that his fee for that signature was $ 1 0,000. 

As Colonel Tichenor was about to sail for Europe he re- 
ceived a note from Mr. Conkling asking him to call at his 
office. Colonel Tichenor had been a very warm supporter 
of John Sherman in opposition to Mr. Conkling, and Tich- 
enor did not understand the purpose of the visit and regretted 
lack of acquaintance with Mr. Conkling, to which Mr. 
Conkling replied, " I know you very well." He had a very 
pleasant interview and commended him very much for his 
work in the Treasury Department, and when he went on 
board the purser of the ship inquired for him and advised him 
that there was a barrel of oysters which had been presented 
to him. 

While I was in London a gentleman called iipon me one 
day to make some inquiries about Mr. Conkling as a lawyer 
and his prominence in the profession. I asked him the pur- 
pose of his inquiry and he said that he was interested in a suit 
in which Mr. Conkling had been called in as counsel and he 
had put in what he regarded as a large fee for services. I 
asked him how much and he said $50,000. I gave him in- 



Consul-General to London 147 

formation as to Mr. Conkling's prominence, and said to him 
that if Mr. Conkling had put in a bill for that amount he 
would certainly expect it to be paid. The suit was one in 
which Com. Garrison's estate was interested and the contro- 
versy was over the question as to whether certain stocks be- 
longed to the company or were individual property. The 
matter was settled by compromise. 

While the controversy as to whether Mr. Tilden or Mr. 
Hayes would be elected President of the United States an 
electoral commission was appointed to settle the disputes in 
regard to Florida and Louisiana. Mr. Conkling was under- 
stood to favor the Democrats' claim and was ready to defend 
it and as I understand had prepared a speech. Mr. Spriggs, 
of Utica, a Democrat, and a friend of Mr. Conkling's, visited 
Washington to confer with him in regard to it. While there 
Governor Lucius Robinson, a Democrat, appointed Mr. 
Conkling's friend, Jas. F. Smythe, Superintendent of Insur- 
ance. This was done without Mr. Conkling's knowledge 
and he was very much offended because it would be charged 
that his course was influenced by the appointment of his 
friend. Mr. Smythe, at the time, was Chairman of the State 
Republican Committee. Mr. Spriggs said that after that he 
could do nothing more with Mr. Conkling. 

Mr. Carpenter, Republican ex-Senator from Wisconsin, 
was employed by the Democratic National Committee and 
he was a warm friend of Mr. Conkling's. When the de- 
cision was reached in Florida I communicated the result to 
Mr. Conkling. He expressed surprise at the result and 
wanted to know what I thought the effect would be upon 
Louisiana, and I said I thought the same reasoning for favor- 
ing the Republican electors in Florida would apply in Louis- 
iana. Mr. Rodney Daniels, of Buffalo, who was in Wash- 
ington, told me that he overheard Mr. Carpenter's report to 



148 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

Mr. Conkling, in which he said that he did not see how any- 
body with common sense could come to such a conclusion, 
and Mr. Conkling responded, " or uncommon sense either." 
My recollection is that when the report of this electoral 
commission was made Mr. Conkling was absent and did not 
vote on the question. He afterward broke friendship with 
General Arthur while he was President and Mr. Cornell 
while he was Governor. It is said he referred to the former 
as the " stalled ox of the White House," and the latter as the 
'* lizard on the hill." They had failed to do what he re- 
quired. 



CHAPTER XII 
LIFE IN LONDON 



CHAPTER XII 
Life In London 

I left for London September 3, 1881 , to assume the duties 
of Consul-General. My wife and Miss Julia Crane ac- 
companied me, and we took passage on the steamship 
" Britanic." President Garfield at that time was in a very 
critical condition. Before reaching Queenstown a meeting of 
the passengers was held, at which I presided, to adopt resolu- 
tions of sympathy which we intended to communicate on 
reaching the town. Rev. Joseph Parker, of London, the 
noted divine of Temple Church, and others, delivered ad- 
dresses, and upon arrival the resolutions were sent by cable 
to the White House. 

Upon arriving at Liverpool we took the Northwestern 
railway to London, reaching the city in the evening, and 
were met by Vice-Consul-General Nunn. We stopped at 
the Midland Grand Hotel, remaining several days. After 
visiting the Consular-General I paid my respects to our 
Minister, James Russell Lowell. We arrived on the 1 5th 
of September and on the I 7th I was presented to the Lord 
Mayor of London, as is usual before entering upon official 
duties in that city, and entered upon the duties of my office. 

President Garfield died on the 1 9th. Soon after receiving 
the news I was invited to meet Mr. Lowell and Gen. Adam 
Badeau at J. S. Morgan's bank to confer in regard to memor- 
ial services. It was decided to hold these services on Satur- 
day afternoon of the 24th. Mr. Lowell had charge of the 
arrangements, including the speakers, etc., and Mr. Morgan 
secured Exeter Hall. Mr. Lowell suggested that I should 
speak, and I told him that I did not feel equal to the occasion, 

[151] 



152 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

that I was not accustomed to public speaking and that this 
would be a notable occasion and undoubtedly a very large 
gathering of representative literary men. I heard nothing 
from him until Friday, when one of the secretaries of the 
Legation called upon me to know what response I would 
make to Mr. Lowell's request that I should take part in the 
memorial services. He said that he had written me a letter 
which I had not received. I went immediately to the Lega- 
tion and conferred with Mr. Lowell. He desired me to offer 
a resolution, saying that as I had just come from the United 
States and had personal acquaintance with the President, it 
was expected that I would take part. He said that Geo. W, 
Smalley, the correspondent of the New York Tribune, would 
prepare the resolutions. We went to Mr. Smalley's house 
and I consented to offer the first resolution. 

I said to Mr. Lowell that if I could be permitted to 
put my speech in writing and read it I should feel less hesita- 
tion. He said that it would not be suitable, or words to that 
effect, as the occasion would be an extemporaneous affair. I 
suggested that if I could invite Bishop Simpson, the head of 
the Methodist Church in America, who was attending the 
ecumenical council, which was then being held in London, to 
second the resolution, I should be glad to do so. He repre- 
sented the religious element of the United States and as I 
understood was a good friend of General Garfield. He gave 
his consent and I succeeded in getting Bishop Simpson's ac- 
ceptance. The Bishop and I agreed how we would divide 
the subject. I told him what Mr. Lowell had said as to 
extemporaneous speaking, etc. This religious council was in 
session and there were a large number of American clergy- 
men present and several applications had been made for an 
opportunity to speak, which Mr. Lowell had declined. He 
selected Moncure D. Conway, who had been a long time 



Life in London 153 



resident of London, Rev. Dr. Channing, a son of the noted 
Unitarian minister, and Mr. J. S. Morgan, banker, who had 
also been a long time past in London. It was arranged that 
we were to meet in the room adjoining the hall before the 
services began. While there I heard Mr. Lowell inquire of 
an attendant whether he could procure a reading stand. 

I said, " There is a railing inside of the platform and one 
would hardly be needed." 

He said, " The fact is, I finally dared not trust myself and 
have put my address in writing." 

It was a most finished and suitable address, of course. I 
had to follow him with an extemporaneous address, with 
only such preparation as I could outline over night. I felt 
at the time that I had not been fairly treated. However, it 
is possible that I acquitted myself as well as though I had 
prepared a more extended written speech or address. 
I presented the following resolution: 

** Resolved, That in the death of President Garfield we 
have to deplore alike a great public misfortune and a loss per- 
sonal to each of us ; that the crime of political murder, which 
in all instances we abhor, has in this instance, without a con- 
ceivable motive or a single apologist, plunged a nation in last- 
ing sorrow, taken from us a wise, firm, beloved chief magis- 
trate of proved capacity for rule ; and bereaved us of a fellow 
citizen, who leaves to Americans for all time to come an ex- 
ample of the simple manliness of a sincere life, of a death 
heroic in patient fortitude, and the priceless inheritance of a 
stainless memory." 

In moving this resolution, I spoke as follows: 

*' I cannot refrain from saying a few words expressing my 
own feelings in support of this resolution. At this moment 
the remains of President Garfield are being rapidly conveyed 
to the distant shores of Lake Erie, there to find their last 



154 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

resting place. The whole nation is in tears, and as Ameri- 
can citizens we are convened to express our grief. It is un- 
necessary for me, speaking to Americans, to attempt a review 
of the noble life of the late President, or to speak in detail of 
his public services. President Garfield's life has been read 
as an open book; his heroism, his Christian fortitude, and his 
wonderful patience have been seen and admired these many 
weeks, and during that period his life has been recounted in 
palace and cottage, and has evoked a sympathy which.it is 
no exaggeration to say is unparalleled. 

*' Upon that subject I need only remark that, although born 
in humble life, and compelled at an early age to engage in 
honest toil in order to aid in the support of his widowed 
mother and the family dependent upon her, young Garlield 
found time to study books, and became both a great general 
and a great statesman, receiving finally from the hands of the 
American people the crowning honor of being elected their 
President. The story of his life may be summed up by say- 
ing that he passed from the grade of a poor boy in the wilder- 
ness to the very highest station in the land. He was equally 
at home with the farm laborer, the scientific man, and the 
scholar. Such was the man whom we mourn to-day. 

" On this occasion it would be improper to refer to anything 
which might be considered of a partisan character. In our 
great sorrow partisanship is hushed, and patriotic sympathy 
and brotherhood have taken its place. General Garfield was 
no less renowned as a scholar than as a soldier arid statesman, 
but the great heart of the nation turns to his memory, not so 
much, perhaps, for his scholarly or his soldierly or his states- 
manlike qualities, as for his rugged honesty, his simple man- 
ners, his genial goodheartedness, and the typical love which 
he displayed in all his domestic relations. 

" I might mention an incident which illustrates in a remark- 



I 



Life in London 155 



able degree General Garfield's dependence upon Divine 
Providence. On the day of the death of the martyred Lin- 
coln there was a large and excited gathering in the streets of 
New York. At that time there was understood to be a very 
disloyal element in the city, and the news that the President 
had just died evoked in the popular bosom a spirit of revenge. 
Menacing cries were heard, and even staid and experienced 
men were carried away by their feelings. At that moment 
Garfield stood forward on the platform unannounced, and, 
raising his hands to heaven, used these memorable words: 
' Fellow citizens, clouds and darkness are round about Him. 
His pavilion is dark waters and thick clouds of the skies! 
Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His 
throne! Mercy and truth shall go before His face! Fellow 
citizens, God reigns, and the Government at Washington still 
lives.' The effect was magical. He turned the passions of 
the multitude in a new direction, and the danger of a popular 
tumult passed away. 

" On this occasion, happily, we may repeat Garfield's own 
words * God reigns, and the Government at Washington 
lives.' His successor, by the peaceful operation of the Con- 
stitution of the United States, has assumed office, and I deem 
it not improper for me to here say that our heartfelt sympa- 
thies go out to the new President in the distressing and sorrow- 
ful and trying circumstances in which he finds himself, confi- 
dent as we are that from assurances already given, so far as 
in him lay, the aspirations, the hopes and the purposes of the 
late President will be carried out. A great deal has been put 
upon us. We ought to bear it like American citizens, and 
cordially extend our forbearance and our assistance to those 
who, for the time being, have to exercise executive authority." 

When I took my seat Mr. Lowell in a most public and 
cordial manner came around and congratulated me and 
thanked me for my speech. I accepted it as an apology. 



156 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

Bishop Simpson, in seconding the resolution, was very 
happy indeed, and was hstened to with the greatest attention, 
and I think every American was very much pleased with his 
address. Mr. Lowell's, Mr. Channing's and Mr. Morgan's 
speeches were all delivered from manuscript. 

The proceedings were published in pamphlet form by 
Mr. B. F. Stevens, the U. S. Despatch Agent, who was also 
in the printing business. A copy was printed on satin and 
presented to the Queen. The platform was filled by noted 
representatives of foreign countries, as well as the literary men 
of London, and a large number of Americans. The Diplo- 
matic Corps was fully represented. The hall could accom- 
modate 3,000 people and it was packed. The proceedings 
were opened by prayer by the Rev. Dr. Marshall of 
Mississippi. 

The Sunday following, the Rev. Joseph Parker preached 
a most eloquent discourse in Temple Church to which 
Americans were especially invited, and reserved seats 
were provided. On the evening of the 26th, Rev. Archibald 
Campbell Tait, DD., Archbishop of Canterbury, held 
a special service at St. Martin's-in-the Fields, at which 
a large number of Americans were present. 

Gen. A. Badeau, my predecessor, gave me a dinner, at 
which several of his friends were present. A.mong them was 
Thos. Hughes, the noted author, who was afterward 
made Judge of the Queen's Bench. He was the author of 
"Tom Brown at Rugby." He and his mother were inter- 
ested in establishing a colony in Tennessee. He was very 
fond of America and Americans. We later attended an 
afternoon tea in his house in Grosvenor Square. 

After leaving the Midland Grand Hotel we took rooms in 
the Tavistock Square near the residence of the late Charles 
Dickens. The foggy season commenced rather earlier than 



Life in London 157 

usual and made it unpleasant for several weeks. It takes 
some time to become accustomed to a London fog. The un- 
pleasantness is largely due to the smoke mingling with the 
mist. The fuel is soft coal, burned in open fire places, and the 
combustion therefore is very imperfect. Late in the winter 
my wife and Miss Crane went to Bishop Downs Spa, near 
Turnbridge Wells, about thirty miles southeast of London, 
where they found it very pleasant. I could go out and spend 
Sunday with them. We spent the Christmas holidays with 
the family of Sir J. H. Puleston, who had spent some time 
in America and was at that time an agent for the state of 
Pennsylvania, looking after the interests of the soldiers of the 
state. He was a Welchman by birth. He went over to 
London as one of the representatives of the Treasury Depart- 
ment to sell or place the first bonds that were placed in Eu- 
rope. His wife and two daughters were very pleasant ladies 
and we enjoyed our visit very much. The next year we spent 
a few days with them at Brighton. The habit of the coun- 
try people who entertain is to have a good many visitors dur- 
ing the holiday season and it is considered an especially social 
occasion to have a long table filled every meal, with a great 
deal of formality. 

Vice-Consul-General Nunn had occupied the posi- 
tion for many years and practically controlled the business of 
the office. General Badeau devoting most of his time to liter- 
ary work and in writing the military history of General Grant. 
While Mr. Nunn was a very competent man for the ordinary 
business of the office, he was not very well acquanted with 
American affairs and therefore was not popular with Ameri- 
cans doing business. He was brusque and short in his man- 
ner and after getting well acquainted with the office I deemed 
it necessary to dispense with his services and recommended 
the appointment of L. H. Mitchell, who at that time was con- 



1 58 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

nected with the Egyptian service as a topographical engineer. 
His home was in Parishville and he was a student of the old 
St. Lawrence Academy at the time I was. When the war 
broke out he was a student at Harvard College. He received 
his commission as lieutenant in a Massachusetts regiment 
and was an efficient officer in the Engineer Corps of the 
Army of the Potomac. After returning from the army he 
completed his course and entered a School of Mines at Co- 
lumbia College and went to Freiberg, Germany, to study 
mining engineering. He finally went to Egypt and entered 
the military service and was placed at the head of a geological 
expedition near the border of Abyssinia, where he and his 
party were captured by brigands and after great suffering and 
exposure was finally released at the request of the U. S. au- 
thorities. After his release he was connected with the land 
survey for the purpose of taxation and became somewhat dis- 
satisfied with his position and resigned and I recommended his 
appointment as Vice-Consul-General and he served with me 
during the remainder of my term. The next spring the 
annual military manoeuvers were to take place near Ports- 
mouth and my wife. Miss Crane, Mr. Mitchell and I went 
down to be present. It was considered a great event in Eng- 
land for a meeting of the reserve forces and in the program 
was a sham battle in which some 30,000 troops were en- 
gaged. The noted English generals were in command and 
the manoeuvers comprised quite an extended campaign for 
two or three days culminating in a sham battle at Ports- 
mouth. The Prince of Wales commanded one of the choicest 
regiments and we were fortunate in being so situated that we 
could observe the approach of the two armies as they came 
together. It reminded Mr. Mitchell and myself of the 
actual battles in war. This was Easter Monday. 

In the spring of 1882 we went to Paris, which was our 



Life in London 159 



first visit. On our way over v^^e had a very pleasant ex- 
perience with an English gentleman and his wife, a Mr. 
Dawes, who was attorney for the Rothschilds. English 
people are very reserved about making acquaintances, but 
after we had been on the route for some little way I made 
some inquiries about the places we were passing and showed 
him my card and he introduced us to his wife and we became 
acquainted. This proved to be as pleasant an acquaintance 
as we made while abroad. Mrs. Dawes was educated in 
France and so could speak French and was of considerrable 
service to us upon our arrival in the way of giving orders, etc., 
for us. Mr. Dawes kindly chaperoned me through Paris and 
afterward we frequently visited them at their place at Ealing. 
My wife and Miss Crane spent some time in Paris. Subse- 
quent to the arrival of my son Edwin, in July, after the Com- 
mencement at Yale, they made a tour through North England 
and Scotland and Stratford, after which Miss Crane left for 
home. 

During my residence in London I was invited to a large 
number of noted dinners. The most important one was the 
Lord Mayor's banquet at the election of a new mayor, which 
was held in Guild Hall. Mr. Gladstone, the Prime Minister, 
was the chief speaker of the evening and upon that occasion 
the Prime Minister is always the chief guest and is expected 
to speak on national questions and considered as important 
in that regard as though he were speaking in Parliament. The 
formal presentation of the guests is on the same line as the 
presentation to the Queen, in the manner of conducting the 
reception and banquet. 

The Lord Mayor's day is the 9th of November. In order 

to be Lord Mayor one must be an alderman first and must 

have been a sheriff of the city. He does not lose his office 

as an alderman, which is a position for life. An alderman 

11 



160 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

is also a magistrate. The usual custom is to elect the senior 
alderman by what is called the liveryman, that is, the guilds 
which are permitted to vote, and at a public meeting they are 
permitted to vote for two persons to be reported to what is 
called the Aldermanic Court, one of whom is to be chosen 
Lord Mayor, whose term of office is but for a single year. 
With reference to a candidate for Lord Mayor a rather amus- 
ing incident took place at a banquet given by the American 
Exchange, at which the senior alderman, who expected to be 
chosen as Lord Mayor, was a guest. He had recently been 
to the United States and had been the guest of the Mayor of 
the city of New York, and when he was called upon to speak 
he related his experience and on the assumption that he was 
to be the Lord Mayor he invited all Americans to call upon 
him. I said to an Englishman who sat by my side that we 
were not so sure in America until after election who was to 
hold the office. He failed of election. I also attended 
the banquet of the Cloth Workers Guild at Cloth Workers 
Hall, and was placed by the side of Lord Woolsey. This 
was one of the noted guilds of the city. Upon another 
occasion I was invited to attend a banquet given by the mili- 
tary organization in honor of Lord Woolsey, who had just 
been given that title for his successful leadership in Egypt 
against the insurgents. I accepted with the distinct under- 
standing that I was not to be called upon to speak. A com- 
mittee called upon me and urged my acceptance and I said 
that I would be glad to go. I was placed next to Lord 
Woolsey and when I took up the menu I found on one page 
the toasts that were to be given and saw that my name was 
also down. I was sorry to have seen that, because it was a 
surprise to me and I had made no preparation for a speech. 
It interfered with my dinner, but it will never do on such 
an occasion to apologize, especially when you occupy what 



Life in London 161 

they would consider a representative position. I, of course, 
when called upon, responded as best I could. I do not think 
a stenographer was present, at any rate, I cannot recall al! 
of my speech. Some days after that Mr. Lowell met me. 

" I think I shall have to report you to the government." 

I said " For what? " 

He said, ** I understand you have been making speeches." 

I said that I had not been making any regular speeches. 

He said, " Down at some military banquet when Lord 
Woolsey was present, I understand you made the speech of 
the evening." 

I said, " Who could have reported anything of that 
kind?" 

" Why," he said, " Lord Woolsey himself. I would like 
to know what you said." 

I replied that I could not recall exactly, that I was called 
upon unexpectedly to make some remarks and I presume it 
must have been on account of the compliments to the chief 
guest. Lord Woolsey, who at one time commanded the 
royal troops in Canada. I said I did the best I could. Mr. 
Lowell said that Lord Woolsey was very much pleased and 
gratified and had told him all about it. I refer to it only 
to show that compliments to the host or chief guest will 
always be well received. 

While in London I became well acquainted with Sir Henry 
Irving, the great English actor, and also with his especial 
friend and constant companion, Mr. Bram Stoker. 

One evening I was present at the Lyceum Theater and be- 
fore the close of the performance I received a polite invitation 
from Mr. Irving to remain and meet some of his friends. He 
gave a beef-steak dinner that evening in the dining-room of 
the theater. There were present besides the host, Edwin 
Booth, Lawrence Barrett, General Horace Porter, late Am- 



162 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

bassador to France, William Winter, dramatic critic of the 
New York Tribune, and myself, Americans; Bram Stoker, 
the Kendalls, leading actors of the Haymarket Theater, Wil- 
son Barrett, the noted tragic actor, L. J. Toole, the great 
comedian, and Edmund Yates, editor of the London Tele- 
graph, Englishmen. It was a noted occasion. The conversa- 
tion at the table was principally confined to the discussion of 
dramatic matters, with interesting reminiscences of their ex- 
periences during their professional careers. Mr. Yates, Gen- 
eral Porter and Mr. Winter spoke from the layman's stand- 
point. 

Mr. Irving was a most charming host. While dignified, he 
was genial and pleasant. He referred to his recent exper- 
iences in the United States, and spoke warmly of American 
actors and American audiences. He was specially compli- 
mentary to Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrett. I recall 
that Mr. Booth expressed regret at what he considered a 
general loss of interest in Shakespeare's plays. General Por- 
ter, always entertaining and witty, was at his best. Law- 
rence Barrett seemed to be the most reserved and dignified. 
To me every moment was interesting and I felt that I should 
never again have the opportunity to meet in such surroundings 
and in a social way such eminent representatives of the stage. 
The party did not separate until after sunrise the next morn- 
ing. Mr. Irving at the time of his death without doubt stood 
at the head of the dramatic profession. The eulogies pro- 
nounced and written at that time justly expressed the esteem 
in which he was held in the United States as well as in Eng- 
land. 

Upon the sixty-third birthday of Mr. Lowell, Hon. S. B. 
Packard, United States Consul at Liverpool, Col. A. B. 
Wood, United States Consul at Dublin, Col. Albert D. 
Shaw, United States Consul at Manchester, and myself 



Life in London 163 



presented to Mr. Lowell a remembrance in the shape of a 
piece of statuary and Mr. Lowell addressed the following 
letter to us: 

10 Lowndes Square, S. W., 22nd February, 1882. 

Gentlemen. — I beg you to accept my most sincere thanks for the 
precious memorial of your esteem with which you have honored me. 
I shall always treasure it as it deserves. 

If anything could make it pleasant to grow old it would be such 
a letter and such a gift as you have been good enough to send me 
on this my sixty-third birthday. I do not care to examine too 
closely how well established my claim may be to all the pleasant 
things you say of me, but I see no reason why an honest man should 
not accept them as he accepts fine weather without any under 
thought as to whether he has earned it or not. It is at least one 
advantage of walking toward sunset that we cast our shadows be- 
hind us and no longer stand in our own light. I shall accordingly 
not stand in mine but shall endeavor to believe that there must be 
some merit where you find so much. 

At any rate you may be sure that I shall always be grateful for 
this mark of recognition which is all the more agreeable that it comes 
from men whose esteem I have every reason to value and brings me 
a whiff of home in a strange land. 

I remain, with sincere respect and esteem, 

Your obliged servant, 

J. R. LOWELL. 

General E. A. Merritt, 
Honorable S. B. Packard, 
Colonel A. B. Wood, 
Colonel Albert D. Shaw. 

After the appointment of my successor by President Cleve- 
land and before my return to America, I gave a farewell 
banquet to many of my London friends at the Continental 
Hotel. Governor Waller, late Governor of Connecticut, 
whom the President had appointed as my successor was one 
of my chief guests and the dinner was not only a farewell to 



164 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

myself, but a welcome to Governor Waller. My other 
guests included Mr. Lowell and suite, Mr. Seligman, Bret 
Harte, at that time United States Consul at Glasgow, the 
Russian Consul-General, Moncure D. Conway and other 
well known commercial and literary gentlemen. The Lon- 
don correspondent of the New York Tribune, Mr. George 
W. Smalley, thus referred to the affair, in his newspaper : 

" General Merritt has received his successor in the United 
States Consulate-General with grace and good will. He in- 
vited a large number of gentlemen to meet Governor Waller 
at dinner at the Continental Hotel on Thursday. Mr. Lowell 
was one of them, desiring, no doubt, to signify by his pres- 
ence on such an occasion the friendly relations which have 
existed between the Legation and the Consulate during the 
last four years. Governor Waller sat on General Merritt's 
left. Mr. Hoppin, first secretary of the American Legation, 
faced his host. As many consuls as could manage to leave 
their posts were present to say good bye to their chief. Not 
many of them, I think, will hold the same relation to Gover- 
nor Waller. Civil service reform, in the Cleveland version 
of it, requires a hecatomb of victims on its new altar. Mr. 
Wilson King, of Birmingham, or lately of Birmingham, 
Major Evan Jones, from Newcastle, and others, were pres- 
ent. The Russian consul-general was one of the guests; 
most of the others were Americans, and most of them were 
representative Americans in one sense or another. Mr. 
Lowell's speech was in the circumstances a difficult one to 
make, but was made with tact, and with all the charm of 
diction and manner which belong to him. General Merritt 
was sensible and practical. Mr. Conway found time for 
pleasant reminiscences of his two and twenty years of Eng- 
lish life. Mr. Puleston seemed in doubt whether he was 
really an American or an Englishman ; with perhaps a prefer- 



Life in London 165 



ence for the former, were it but consistent with his member- 
ship of the house of commons. Mr. Harold Frederic and 
Mr. Oakey Hall responded in proper terms to the toast of 
the American press. Then came Governor Waller who took 
the company by surprise. If he chooses, he may have a future 
before him in England as an after dinner speaker. His man- 
ner is rather more oratorical than usual here, but none too 
much so for the matter. He delivered his jests with a quaint 
elaboration and unbroken solemnity of demeanor which vastly 
increased their effect. He expounded the true doctrines of 
civil service reform; which I would repeat if I did not fear 
to do injustice to its author. He promised General Merritt a 
heartfelt reception at home, — this was in illustration I think 
of the doctrine. He held him up to us as having labored 
and contrived for four years to make the place a hard one for 
his successor, which is true. Altogether, Governor Waller 
carried a rather critical audience with him. When he sat 
down we did not regret General Merritt the less, but we liked 
Governor Waller much more than we anticipated." 

Upon the announcement that I was to leave the public 
service, the following comment appeared in the New York 
Tribune London letter of April 2, 1 885 : 

" When General Merritt took charge of the American 
Consulate-General in London, it is no secret that its condition 
was unsatisfactory. Its business methods were slovenly, to 
use no stronger term. Neither the authorities at Washington, 
nor the Custom House at New York, nor the business com- 
munity of London thought themselves well served. General 
Merritt reorganized the office from top to bottom. He abol- 
ished existing abuses and introduced reform after reform, 
until, from having been one of the least efficient and business- 
like establishments in London, the American Consulate be- 
came the best. He gave to it the whole of his time, energy. 



166 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

experience and remarkable knowledge of business. He in- 
spected minutely the consulates throughout the kingdom, and 
introduced into the service a discipline and order of which it 
stood sadly in need. There had been varying scales of fees 
in London. People had been charged, at times, different 
prices for the same consular or notarial services, according to 
their supposed ability to pay. Under General Merritt there 
has been no capricious or sliding rate, but if an American 
who wanted anything done could not afford to pay the regu- 
lar fee, he paid nothing. I mention this as one instance out 
of many which from time to time have come to my knowl- 
edge, and as showing the spirit which the office was adminis- 
tered. Certain it is that before General Merritt had been 
many months in London he had won the respect and confi- 
dence of the business community here, and of his own 
countrymen. This respect and confidence he has retained 
down to the moment when his dismissal is so abruptly 
announced." 

The Consulate-General at London is a sort of central office 
through which the other consular agents throughout Great 
Britain and Ireland communicate with the Department of 
State at Washington. The Consul-General at London as a 
part of his duties, inspects the various agencies in the United 
Kingdom. If an agent of the United States at one of the 
consulates outside of London desires to communicate with 
the State Department his letter first goes to the Consul-Gen- 
eral at London. If the letter asks a question or-seeks advice 
which has previously been settled by the State Department 
upon the application of some other agency under the super- 
vision of the Consul-General, that officer appends the informa- 
tion sought to the letter of the agent and returns the com- 
munication to the agent without again troubling the State 
Department with the matter. If the matter is an original 



Life in London 167 

proposition, the Consul-General appends to the communica- 
tion his own ideas or recommendations and the subject is 
then referred by him to the State Department. The reply 
when received by the Consul-Gneral is then sent to the agent 
who first made the query. 




E. A. MERRITT, JR. 



CHAPTER XIII 
RETROSPECT 



172 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

ingly taken unfair advantage of my opponents, and if I have 
fought hard, I have fought fairly, have exulted in no victory 
and have never used any public trust that came to me for 
any personal advantage. 

In the course of my life I have seen many careers which 
promised exceptional success, wrecked by failure to be honest 
and fair not only in private and business hfe but in political 
affairs, and while I have seen many sharp corners turned in 
what might be called political competitions, I can bear testi- 
mony to the uprightness and honor of the men, both friend 
and foe, with whom I have been associated in a long life of 
more than ordinary political activity. 

Looking back through the changes which have taken 
place, I can feel deeply grateful that I have been privileged 
to live in the most marvelous era of the world's life. I have 
seen the development of steam and the modern application 
of electricity, the great forces which have revolutionized in- 
dustry and changed our nation from an agricultural country 
into one of commerce and manufactories, one of the richest 
of all lands. 

The northern country which has been my home has been 
changed from a wilderness into a rich and populous region. 
The railroad has come over the trail where I carried my 
surveyor's chain, and the rivers where I fished in boyhood, 
have been harnessed to great dynamos which turn busy 
wheels and light distant towns. The little clearings have 
changed into fertile farms, rude huts into rich homes, hamlets 
into towns adorned with public buildings and all the appli- 
ances of a prosperous and refined life. 

While I have ever been appreciative of the public honors 
I have received from my country, I have, I think, been loyal 
to it, not because it has been generous to me, but because I in- 
herited from my patriotic ancestors a love of country, and of 



Retrospect 1 73 

all the events in my public life I look back on none with 
greater pride than my career as a soldier in the time of the 
Civil War. Realizing what war meant, I went into it not 
only with the enthusiasm of youth, but with a fervent pa- 
triotic desire to serve my country in her hour of need. The 
work assigned to me was arduous, but it had much to do 
with the care of the soldiers and providing for their wants 
and while it was less spectacular than the more stirring scenes 
of the battlefield, it was no less important in the great 
mechanism of war. It is satisfaction to me to feel that I 
shall be numbered with the great host of loyal men who 
helped to win the victory which made our nation one people. 

I know the temporary nature of political and public 
honors. Men come and go, the work they do merges in 
with the world's work, other men take their places, and their 
names and work are measurably forgotten. But when men 
ally themselves with causes and institutions which live, though 
their names perhaps become lost, the work they do remains. 
It is because of this that I feel that my work, since my retire- 
ment from public life, has not been wholly in vam, and that 
perhaps the largest and best, certainly the most lasting work 
of my life, has been done in what may be termed my later 
years. 

My ancestors were God-fearing men and women and I 
inherited a belief that the higher forces of life were the most 
permanent. I have revered God, respected law, honored and 
kept the Sabbath, upheld the sanctuary of all faiths and have 
tried to sustain every cause which looked to the betterment 
of the community in which I lived. 

The earlier pages of this life story tell the story of the 
hard conditions in which I was reared. The advantages of 
education were few, and though I was fairly well equipped 
in comparison with my fellows and while I tried to teach 



174 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

others less well educated than myself, I realized then, as I 
have realized all my life, the handicap which lack of educa- 
tion puts upon every man. The days of my youth were days 
of hardship. Life was a struggle for existence. Schools were 
few and primitive and however ambitious one was for 
knowledge, the facilities and opportunities for acquiring it 
were few. 

Out of this sense of my personal limitations, came a life- 
long desire to help to give to others the educational advan- 
tages which were denied to me and if my life is to be long 
remembered, it will be, I hope, not through the public places 
I have held, but through my identification with the educa- 
tional institutions of the community where I have had my 
home. 

The North Country is remote from the more populous 
sections of the State. Its population is an unmixed native 
stock, hardy, with strong minds hungering for knowledge. 
But the great educational institutions were far removed from 
it. The colleges were hundreds of miles away and no higher 
institutions were in existence in this remote section, almost 
an empire in extent. When St. Lawrence University was 
established at Canton, the shire town of the county, I felt 
that a new era was coming to the North Country, and while 
my absence from the region during the earlier years of its his- 
tory prevented my active work in the laying of its founda- 
tions, my later years have been devoted to its welfare. As 
the President of its Board of Trustees, for almost a genera- 
tion, I have seen it pass through the many crises which attend 
the building up of great institutions, but my faith in its success 
has never faltered ; and while it has entailed many sacrifices, 
I rejoice that I have been spared to see it developed into a 
great University, with plant and equipment equal to the best, 
an enlarging endowment and increasing numbers, with 



Retrospect 1 75 

nearly one thousand graduates doing it honor in their lives 
and holding it in grateful remembrance. 

The recent addition of its agricultural department has 
enlarged the scope of its usefulness and makes it more than 
ever the benefactor of the region where it is placed. It may 
perhaps be pardoned to a father, that he should have pride 
in the fact that his son was largely influential in the Legis- 
lature, in securing the generous appropriations from the State, 
which founded and is maintaining this school as an adjunct 
of the University. For several years I have tried to shift onto 
younger shoulders the honor of the position held by me as 
President of the Board but with very kind indulgence the 
alert young men who are my associates refuse to allow me 
to surrender my office. 

The founding of the State Normal School and the 
Clarkson Memorial School of Technology at Potsdam, are 
matters of local history and of State importance. They have 
grown into institutions of large influence. Their graduates 
are many, widely scattered and doing large work. Their 
establishment was not easy — especially that of the Normal 
School. Rival towns contended hard for its location, and 
only by the most persistent work, helped perhaps by personal 
influence and some experience and knowledge in the man- 
agement of affairs, was it finally located in its present posi- 
tion. Its success has justified its establishment and I have 
naturally felt for it the pardonable pride of a father for a 
child. Its welfare has been my solicitude and I have kept 
myself young by association with its teachers and students, 
who have been associated with me in friendliest interest for 
the welfare of the school. I have been honored by being 
President of its Board for many years and I have watched 
its growth with satisfaction. Through the many teachers it 
has sent out its influence is far reaching and permanent. 

12 



1 76 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

The Clarkson School represents in fine fashion the new 
life of technical instruction and with its good equipment and 
generous maintenance, it has brought to the North Country 
educational advantages which have been of inestimable 
worth. I have been upon the Board since its inception and 
have found in the many duties of these institutions perhaps 
an antidote against the rust of old age. Some one has 
facetiously said that I held every office in Northern New 
York which carried no salary. While my association with 
these beneficent institutions has not been highly remunera- 
tive, I have felt blessed beyond measure that I have been 
privileged to aid them in their work, feeling that they are 
among the great forces which are permanently to benefit 
mankind. 

In concluding this record of what may fairly be called a 
busy life, I will reiterate what I have earlier said, that I have 
been tempted to write this story through the persuasions of 
my too partial friends. I feel grateful to the friendships I 
have enjoyed and hope that my life has been of some use to 
those I must soon leave behind. It has been a good world 
to me and I am glad that I have lived in it and have had fair 
chance to do the work apportioned to my hands. 



APPENDIX 
THE MERRITT FAMILY AND DESCENT 



<l 



APPENDIX 



The Merritt Family and Descent 

Early History and Descent from Eadnoth the Staller, a Saxon 

General 

At the time of the Norman Conquest, in A. D. 1066, hereditary 
surnames were unknown, but words of description were coming into 
use among the higher classes. The name of a man's father, or the 
place where he lived, or his occupation was used for this purpose, 
and, in course of time, they became surnames. Persons of quality 
and distinction were usually known by the name of their manor or 
estate, as John of Gaunt, or Godfrey of Bouillon. 

The surname Merritt is derived from the ancient Saxon manor 
and parish of Meriet in Somersetshire. England. It is now written 
Merriott. 

It is, however, probable that Meriet was the ancient Celtic 
(Welsh) name of this manor before the Saxon Conquest. The 
Merritt family were Lords of Meriet for over three hundred years. 
The early form of the name was '* de Meriet," and some branches 
of the family have always retained the " de " in the name. The 
French preposition " de " was introduced into England — like the 
most of our names — by the Normans. It was used to indicate the 
ownership of the estate named. Henry de Warren meant that 
Henry was owner of the manor of Warren. 

It is sometimes incorrectly stated to mean " son of " or " from." 

THE MERRITT LINE OF DESCENT. 
The following pedigree, except the first four generations, was 
compiled from records in the State Paper Office, London, and traces 
the main stem of the family — the source from which all the other 
branches spring: 

[I79l 



180 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 



1. — Eadnoth The Staller. 

Comparatively little is known of this great Saxon general, and 
nothing at all of his early life and family, except his son Harding 
iitz Eadnoth. 

His transactions with Aelfwold, Bishop of Sherborne, shows him 
to have been in an influential position before A. D., 1058. For 
the next ten years he served as a high officer under Kings Edward, 
Harold, and William the Conqueror. 

William of Malmesbury, the great historian of his time, writes as 
follows of Eadnoth: 

" The invaders being driven to Ireland, the royalists purchased 
" the empty title of conquest at their own special loss and that of 
" their general. His name was Ednoth, equally celebrated before 
" the arrival of the Normans, both at home and abroad. He was 
" the father of Harding, who yet survives, a man more accustomed 
" to kindle strife by his malignant tongue than to brandish arms in 
" the field of battle." 

Hardy, the historian, calls Eadnoth " Harold's master of the 
horse. He was killed in 1 068, in opposing the sons of Harold 
when they came upon their expedition from Ireland." 

A more extended account of Eadnoth may be found in Freeman's 
Norman Conquest, from which the following facts are gleaned: 

Harold's Sons' Return From Ireland. 

" The sons of Harold, with a fleet of 52 ships, manned, no 
" doubt, partly by Irish, Danes, and partly by English exiles, sailed 
" to some point of the Somerset coast not more fully described. 

" Under the circumstances of their landing, it is not wonderful 
" that they found the shire unfriendly, or that Eadnoth, once their 
" father's staller, preferred his lately sworn alleeiance to tlie Norman 
** king to any feelings of regard for the sons of his old master. 

** Eadnoth, as King William's officer, met the sons of Harold in 
" arms, at the head of King William's new subjects, the local f^rd 
" of Somerset. 

" Many good men were slain on both sides." This form of 
words commonly refers to the rank of the persons spoken of; and 
it would seem to imply that such Enc'lish The^ns as were left in the 
shire did not scruple to obey the summons of Eadnoth. 



Appendix 181 

" The result seems to have been a drawn battle. 

" Eadnoth fell in the light, and his son, as we have seen, failed 
" to retain the inheritance which might have seemed the due reward 
" of his father's services." 

Eadnoth and Harding. 

" The most remarkable man, and the official of highest rank 
" among those who won William's favor in the western shires, was 
" Eadnoth, a man who seems to have risen by the favor of Harold, 
" who had held the office of Staller under both Edward and Harold, 
" and who held large estates in various parts of England, but 
" especially in the west. 

" He became a zealous adherent of William, and died in his 
" service. It is therefore almost certain that he must have retained 
"his lands; still no part of them passed to his son Harding, who, 
" there is every reason to believe, was the ancestor of the great 
'* house of the Lords of Berkeley. 

" Some pretext must, therefore, have been found for defrauding 

" Harding of his succession; such a pretext was perhaps easy to be 

" found in the case of a man who, we are told, was more valiant 

'* with his tongue than with his sword." 

*y. ****** 

" Our slight notices of Eadnoth raise a certain interest in him. 
** There is a temptation to find out as much as we can about a man 
" who was in high place, alike under Edward, Harold, and William. 
" And if there is reason to believe that he was the forefather of a 
" great English house, the pedigree acquires an interest which does 
" not belong to those pedigrees, real or mythical, which go up only 
" to the shares of William's spoils. That Eadnoth was Staller 
" under Edward appears from Cod. Diph. IV,, 240, which also 
" shows that he was Sheriff of Hampshire. In that writ he is ad- 
" dressed, along with Stigand, as Archbishop, and Harold as Earl. 
" But he does not often sign the charters of Edward, though his 
" name is attached to the two spurious Westminster charters with 
" the title of ' Eadnodus, Minister.* In Domesday he once distinctly 
" appears as ' Ednod, Stalre ' in Berkshire. Also as ' Ednod, 
" Dapifer.* " 



182 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

" Eadnoth undoubtedly had a son Harding, who was living when 
" William of Malmesbury wrote, and of whom he gives a very 
'* curious description: 

" We have thus a Harding, son of Eadnoth the Staller, and we 
** have further evidence of his connection with Somerset and Devon- 
" shire. 

Heardinc Eadnod sunu ' appears among the witnesses to a 
" Somerset document in Cod. Dipl. IV., 234, and we also find 
** him selling a slave at Topsham in Devonshire." 

" As to the descendants of Harding, it seems in the highest de- 
" gree probable that this Harding was the father of Robert Fitz 
" Harding, of Bristol, the forefather of the second line of the Lords 
" of Berkeley." 

2. — Harding Fitz Eadnoth. 

The foregoing quotations from William, of Malmesbury, and 
Freeman's Norman Conquest, and a series of letters in Notes and 
Queries, during 1879-80, give an account of Harding. 

It is probable that he was born as early as 1035, and he is said 
to have died Nov. 6, about 1115. In Somerset Gueld Inquest, 
1 084, he is called in one place, " Hardin de Meriot," and in other 
parts of the same record, " Harding fitz Alnod." Two years later, 
at the time of the great survey recorded in Domesday Book, 
" Harding holds Meriet of the King." In this record the manor 
of Meriet is described as follows: 

" Dodeman holds Meriet* of the earl;' Sevin and Bustward 
" held it in the time of King Edward, '' and yielded for seven hides. 

" The arable is seven carucates." 

" In demesne" are two carucates, six servants, ten villains, six 
" cottagers, with four plough." 

" There are three mills of thirty shillings rent, and twenty-five 
" acres of meadow, and half a mile of pasture in length and 
" breath. It was worth four pounds — now seven pounds. * * * 
" Harding holds Meriet of the King. Godwin held in the time 
" of King Edward, and yielded for five hides. In demesne are two 
" carucates, two servants, nine villains, and six cottagers, with 
" six plough. 

" The arable is six caracutes. There is a mill of five shillings rent, 
" and ten acres of meadow, and three furlongs of pasture. 



Appendix 1 83 

'* It was worth one hundred shillings — now it is worth four 
" pounds." 

3. — Nicholas Fitz Harding. 

Born before 1085, and died in 1171. He was the eldest son 
and heir of Harding litz Eadnoth, and succeeded him as Lord of 
Meriet. In 1 1 66 he made a return to the King, and in it he 
speaks twice of his father. At that time he must have been at least 
76 years old. Robert fitz Harding, the ancestor of the Lords of 
Berkeley, is believed to have been his brother. 

4. — Henry Fitz Nicholas. 
Born about 1115, and died 1 192. In 1171 he made a return 
to the King as Lord of Meriet — Scutage Roll. As Henry de 
Meriet he gave lands in Somersetshire to the Templars. 

5. — Nicholas de Meriet. 

Born about 1150, and died 1229. In the year 1194 he paid 
38 shillings and 9 pence scutage toward the ransom of King 
Richard I. 

He was succeeded in the lordship of Meriet and other lands by 
his son. 

6. — Hugh de Meriet. 

Born about 1 1 75, and died 1236. He succeeded his father as 
Lord of Meriet, which he held in chief of the King. In the year 
1230 he paid King Henry III. 25 marks for the relief of his lands. 

7. — Nicholas de Meriet. 

Born about 1200; died, 1254. He succeeded his father as 
Lord of Meriet, and in 1236 gave King Henry III. 12 pounds and 
10 shillings for the relief of one Knight forfeit in Meriet, which his 
father held in chief of the King. In 1254 he contributed the sum 
of 37 shillings and 2 pence in aid for making the king's eldest son 
a knight. 

8. — John de Meriet. 

Bom about 1230, and died 1294. In the inquisition post 
mortem, taken at his death, in the thirteenth year of Edward I., 
he is described as having been seized of the manor of Meriet and 



184 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

the advowson of the church thereof, then certified to be of the value 
of 20 pounds. The following is also declared to be his son and 
heir: 

9. — Sir John de Meriet. 

Born about 1255; died 1301. He was a great warrior, and 
had the honor of knighthood conferred on him by King Edward I., 
in all of whose wars he was engaged. 

In the year 1 299 he obtained from the king a charter of free 
Warren, a market, and a fair in the manor of Meriet. 

He was one of the great men that had special summons to attend 
the king with horse and arms to march against the Scots. 

By wife Lucia he left three sons, John, George, and William. 

He was succeeded as Lord of Meriet by his eldest son. Sir John 
de Meriet, who was a knight and bore the arms — barry of six, 
surmounted by a bend. It is shown by his seal, still preserved on 
an ancient deed. He seems to have been in great favor at the 
Court of King Edward II., but was of a turbulent temper, insomuch 
that he was excommunicated from the church by John de Drokens- 
ford. Bishop of Bath and Wells, for emboweling his deceased wife. 
He was afterward pardoned, and died in 1 32 7. 

He was succeeded by his son, John de Meriet, then aged 20 
years, but he died soon without issue, and was succeeded by his 
uncle, George de Meriet. The successor of George de Meriet was 
his son (by wife Isabella), Sir John de Meriet, lord of the manor 
of Meriet and other lands in the same county. He died without 
male issue in 1345, and was succeeded by his cousin, Simon de 
Meriet, son of William de Meriet, the following: 

10. — ^William de Meriet. 

Bom about 1 280, and son of Sir John de Meriet, by wife Lucia, 
is not known to have possessed an estate. His son, Simon de 
Meriet, became lord of the manor of Meriet through the failure 
of his brother's issue. 

1 1 . — Simon de Meriet. 

Bom about 1310; was lord of the manor of Meriet, and also 
possessed of the estates of Ashton, Long Ashton, and others. He 
was succeeded by his son — 



Appendix 1 85 

1 2. — Sir John Meriet. 

Born about 1340. He was created a knight by King Edward 
IV., and was a man of distinction. He married Eleanor de Beau- 
champ, sister and co-heir of Sir John de Beauchamp, of Hatch. 
Her sister, Cecilia, married Sir Roger Seymour, and from them 
descended Lady Jane Seymour, Queen of King Henry VIII, , and 
mother of King Edward VI. The Beauchamp and Seymour fami- 
lies were of great eminence and distinction. 

Sir John Beauchamp died in the year 1 344, without issue, and 
his estates were inherited by the heirs of his sisters Meriet and 
Seymour. 

13. — John Meritt. 

Born about I 360. He was the only son of Sir John Meriet by 
Eleanor, and succeeded him at Hatch. 

He possessed also the lordships of Lopen Stratton and Marston 
Magna, with the advowson of the church of Meriet and Buckland, 
all of which, at his death in 1372, descended to his son and heir. 
Sir John Meritt. 

He also possessed a part of the manor of Sellindge, in the county 
of Kent, which descended through his mother from Sir John de 
Beauchamp.* 

He was succeeded in his Somerset estates by his son. Sir John 
Meritt, who, by wife Maud, had three childen, George, Margaret, 
and Elizabeth. The two former died without issue, and the latter 
married a Seymour and inherited the estates. 



* By reason of the law in Kent, it is believed the other sons of John 
Merritt (13) Inherited part of the manor of Sellindge; that some of them 
settled there, and that Henry Merritt, of Scituate, Mass., descended from 
bim. 
The following facts lead to this conclusion : 

First. Henry Merritt came from the county of Kent, and the other men 
of Kent at Scituate, so far as known, came from the neighborhood of 
Tenterden, which is only ten miles from Sellindge. 

Second. There was no other Merritt family In Kent, or near there, before 
1600, except the Merritts at Sellindge. 

Third. The late Wm. H. Merritt (lost on the steamer Atlantic), met a 
gentleman in England by the name of Merritt, from the county of Kent, 
who informed him that a member or members of his family had emigrated 
to New England from Kent, over 200 years before. 

He also told him that he could trace his pedlgre* back to the time of 
King Richard I. 



186 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt 

GENERAL MERRITT'S ANCESTRY — PATERNAL 

LINE. 
I . — Henry Merritt. 

Born in County of Kent, England, probably the parish of Ten- 
terden — about 1590. He came to America before 1628 and 
with others called " Men of Kent " founded the town of Scituate, 
Plymouth County, Mass., where he became a large landed pro- 
prietor, and died November, 1 652. The earliest Scituate record 
is a deed of land in 1 628, by Henry Merritt to Nathaniel Tilden. 
His wife called " Goodwife Merrit " joined the church 1637. 
Children — John, Henry and Katharine. 

2. — John Merritt. 

Born in New England probably, about 1625, and died in 
Scituate after the year 1670. He succeeded to his father's estate 
and was the only son known to have left descendants. His home- 
stead was on Greenfield Lane and " the drift way " now called 
Merritt's Comer. He married Elizabeth Wyborne, daughter of 
Thomas, of Boston, April 3, 1655. Children — John, Henry, 
Jonathan and Deborah. 

3. — John Merritt. 

Born in Scituate in the year 1660, and died in the same place 
June 5, 1740. He married, 1686, Elizabeth Hyland, daughter 
of Thomas and Elizabeth (Stockbridge) Hyland, of Scituate. 

Children — John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Ichabod, Hannah, 
Henry, Jonathan, David, Ebenezer, Abigail and Ezekial. 

4. — Johnathan Merritt. 

Born 1 702, and died in Hebron, Tolland County, Ccmn., Octo- 
ber 21, 1758. He moved to Hebron about 1730, and the town 
records show that he bought land there in November, 1 735, and 
also 1 736 and 1 746. He married, in Scituate 1 727, Mehitable 
Daman, daughter of Zachary and Mehitable (Chittenden) Daman. 

Children — Simeon, Noah, Jonathan and probably others. 

5. — Noah Merritt. 
Born in Scituate, 1730, and died March 24, 1814, in Temple- 
ton, Worcester County, Mass. He settled in Templelon as early 



Appendix 1 87 

as 1 753, and probably was a builder by trade, for in I 763 he 
contracted with the town to build the first bridge over Otter River. 
Children — Noah, Abigail, Lucy, Sarah, Henry, Esther, Simeon, 
Molly, Eunice, Wilks, Uriah, Hannah and Dytha. 

6. — Noah Merritt. 

Bom October, 1758, in Templeton, and died August 21, 1843, 
in Sudbury, Rutland County, Vt. He served six years with dis- 
tinction in the Revolutionary War, and was personally acquainted 
with Washington. He was a man of high character and great 
intellectual and physical force. Married Eunice Metcalf and 
moved to Brandon, Vt., about I 785. 

Children — Noadiah, Henry, Eunice, Anna, Esther, Roxie, 
Achsah. 

7. — Noadiah Merritt. 

Bom in Templeton, December 23, I 782, and died in Pierrepoint, 
N. Y., January I, 1854. Married first Uranie Goodrich, Novem- 
ber 26. 1 807. Children — Polly, Lucy M., Esther A.. Henry H., 
Nabby, Roxie and Achsah B. He married second Relief Parker, 
November 25, 1821. Children — Noadiah Parker, Emily, Uranie, 
Julia Ellen, Darwin Hamilton, Edwin Atkins, Julius Fernando, 
William Wallace, Marshall Josephus and John Harvey. 

8. — Edwin A. Merritt. 
Born in Sudbury, Rutland County, Vt., February 26, 1828. 
He resided in Vermont until he was ten years* of age, when he went 
to live with a married sister in West port, Essex County, N. Y. In 
1841 he removed to St. Lawrence County, where he has since re- 
sided. By occupation he was formerly a Surveyor and Engineer. He 
was unanimously elected in 1 854 Supervisor of Pierrepont, re-elected 
the two following years, and in 1857-58-59-60 he was clerk of the 
Board of Supervisors. He was elected by large majorities. Member 
of Assembly 1859-60; Member of Constitutional Convention 1867, 
and was the Republican candidate for State Treasurer in 1 875. He 
has filled other public positions of honor and trust, the more im- 
portant of which are. Quartermaster of the 60th N. Y. Regiment 
and Commissary of Subsistence during the Rebellion; Quartermaster- 
General of New York for four years on the staff of Governor Fenton, 



188 Memoirs of Gen. Merritt d^ 

and is the only official that has ever filled the three important offices 
of Naval Officer, Surveyor and Collector of the Port of New York. 
General Merritt married Eliza Rich in Pierrepont, N. Y., May 5th, 
1858. Children — Edwin Albert. Arthur Willson, Parker Rich 
and Darwin Fenton. 

RICH GENEALOGY. 

Henry Rich, Ear! of Holland, is the first known member of the 
Rich family. He gave the name to Holland House, built by Sir 
Walter Cope, 1607, and situated on the hill near Kensington Gar- 
dens, London. The house is famous for its associations with the 
names of those who have occupied it. After Lord Holland's execu- 
tion, it passed into the hands of the Parliamentary generals Fairfax 
and Lambert, but was later restored to Lady Holland. Addison 
lived in it from 1716 to his death 1719. Henry Fox, father of 
Charles James Fox, purchased it in 1 762, and it is still in the pos- 
session of his line. 

Among the other inmates have been Cromwell, Ireton, William 
Penn, William the Third, and Macaulay. 

Ebenezer Rich Olive Town 

Jacob Rich Sally Wilson 

born Sutton, Mass., born Warwick, Mass., 

died Canton, N. Y. died Pierrepont, N. Y. 

Married at Shoreham, Vt. 

Children: Albert, Lucy, Caleb, Olive, Lucinda, Eliza (Mrs. E. A. 
Merritt), Charles. 

Eliza Rich born at Canton, N. Y., December 5, 1827. 



